Sam Turner, a member of the Hightstown High School Class of ’61, made his name at the school as a member of the boys soccer team’s three consecutive state championships.
By: Neil Hay
Boys soccer, that bountiful treasure chest of great teams, players, coaches, and championships, has produced another member for the Hightstown High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
He is Sam Turner, Class of 1961, a four-year varsity player who helped the Rams’ varsity soccer program to three consecutive state championships and a continuation of the Rams soccer tradition.
Ironically, the one year that Turner and his teammates were unable to win it all, 1960, was perhaps the best team of the four that Turner played on.
"We felt that the 1960 team was best, when you look at the talent," said Turner. "We were undefeated in the regular season."
Turner was team captain his junior and senior years.
Playing for Hall of Famer Russell Beaulieu, Turner played mostly fullback with some action at halfback too. Those were still the glory years of soccer at Hightstown, when the school occupied what is now the Rogers School and anybody and everybody in town was a fan. Just about everyone back then played soccer, and if you went to Hightstown High School you aspired to don the uniform. Only the best made it.
"Soccer was the big sport. There was no football team at Hightstown then. Throughout the state Hightstown was known for soccer."
Turner played on state championship teams in 1957, 1958 and 1959. In his senior year, going for another crown, the Rams were upended in the state semi-finals. In those days the Group II Rams had big rivalries with teams such as Hamilton, Trenton and Jamesburg.
"We played at school, in a coal yard in town (by the post office), the streets, any field. We played anywhere.
"We didn’t care who we played. We felt we were the best. The talent was not that great, but we felt we could beat anybody and you’d have to prove we couldn’t," said Turner. "We had great teamwork, great camaraderie. All the town would come out for the games. It was a great feeling to have everyone behind you."
Turner claimed to have the most talented leg on the team. Challenged by teammates, he proved it by winning kicking contests against his fellow booters. Consequently, Beaulieu used Turner’s talented leg as another weapon in the Rams’ mighty arsenal. In each of his four years, Turner took every penalty shot awarded the Rams.
"I had a very accurate leg. I could put the ball anywhere on net: high, low, left, right. I was gifted with that. I just loved soccer. I ate, slept, breathed soccer. It was my game. It was our game."
Turner, who also played basketball and baseball and ran track at Hightstown, had visions of a pro soccer career. After graduation he went to Montclair State, and from 1962 to 1963 played on the U.S. Pan American team. An injury, however, prevented him from actually playing in the 1963 Pan Am Games.
The injury helped clarify the situation for Turner that, perhaps, a professional career was not in the cards.
"That is when I realized I better get with my studies," Turner said. "That ended my aspiration of being a professional."
Turner was voted Montclair’s Most Valuable Player in 1962 and 1963, and was named Little All-American in 1962. After four years playing varsity soccer as a back at Montclair State, Turner graduated in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education.
Turner taught phys ed in Carteret for four years, and was in business for two more, before taking a position in the physical education department at Hightstown in 1971. He coached baseball for eight years, three as head coach, and soccer for six years, including three years as head coach. He also returned to try his hand as girls freshman field hockey coach in 1989 and 1990.
"That was an experience," recalled Turner.
In 1977 Turner took a sabbatical from teaching. For two years he attended New Brunswick Seminary and became very involved in the church. From 1978 through 1982 he was pastor with Liberty Tabernacle Church in South Brunswick. In February of this year he was ordained as pastor at the New Jerusalem Church in East Windsor. This is a non-denominational, full gospel, Christian church.
In his youth Turner was associated with the Mount Olive Baptist Church in Hightstown.
"I was brought up there. I’ve been trustee, deacon, minister. I conducted services, marriages, funerals, baptisms. I believe the ministry is my calling. I haven’t felt the calling to be a full time pastor."
Turner returned from his sabbatical in 1978 and resumed his full time teaching position in the Hightstown physical education department. He continues to teach at his alma mater and this fall will be back on the soccer field as a Rams’ assistant coach. Turner also worked for Federal Express for more than eight years, retiring three years ago. In 1966 his son David, a Hightstown graduate who will be 28 years old in October, was struck down when a virus attacked his brain. David is physically healthy but his mental functions are those of a child.
"Three times he nearly died," said Turner. David lives at home with Sam and his wife of nearly 35 years, Carilyn. "I feel blessed our son is still with us. I thank God everyday for that."
The Turners have three other children, Deborah, a 5th grade teacher in the district, Sam Jr., who is employed by Fedex, and Angela, who is married and teaches Spanish in Pennsylvania.
When one talks to Sam Turner, or just gets his answering machine at home, the message is always one of faith. Despite its ups-and-downs, Turner sees his life as a joy, a blessing and never a burden. He described his selection to the Hightstown Hall of Fame the same way.
"Making the Hall of Fame is a real blessing. As a young person coming out of college, I wanted to be inducted into the Montclair State Hall of Fame. But I needed to make a financial commitment to it and I couldn’t." So Turner did not get into Montclair State’s Hall.
"This is a real honor," continued Turner. "I grew up here. So many fine athletes came up and went to Hightstown High School. It is an honor to be recognized. So many have called. To be called means so much. I know what kind of athletes and people they are. I still talk with Russ. We rubbed shoulders at Hightstown High School many years ago. I can’t think of a coach who is any better as a teacher and motivator. I appreciate him."

