Albert Milford Turner was born February 26, 1868 in the Northfield section of Litchfield, Conn. He was the son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Filley) Turner. He prepared for college at Wilbraham Academy and graduated from Yale in 1890. His early career as a civil engineer, was followed by his being hired in 1914 as the first employee of the Conn. State Park Commission, for which he served as field secretary and secretary before he retired in 1942. Under his direction the State Park system took shape, with particular attention in the early years to the coastline including Sherwood Island and Hammonasset Beach. In 1931, Mr. Turner received the Cornelius Amory Pugsley Silver Medal, one of the most prestigious national awards recognizing outstanding contributors to the field of parks and conservation. Albert M. Turner was married  in New Haven in 1894 to Mary M. Seaton. They were divorced in 1921. On July 14, 1923 he married Helen "Nellie" Catlin, daughter of J. Howard and Josephine Catlin of Northfield. Returning to Northfield from Hartford after he retired, Mr. Turner died there on June 28, 1944.