Special to The Post-Searchlight

For better than 40 years, Dr. Turner W. Rentz Sr. was a family physician to the citizens of Miller, Baker, Decatur, Seminole, Mitchell and Randolph counties. He delivered more than 3,000 babies and was a charter member of the Miller County Hospital Authority in his hometown of Colquitt, Ga.

During his life, Rentz pledged a gift to his alma mater, the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Health Sciences University, that he asked be completed at his death.

To honor that request, the Dr. Turner Wayne Rentz Sr. Scholarship Fund has been established at MCG. The needs-based scholarship will provide financial support to an MCG student who is a resident or former resident of Southwest Georgia.

Rentz’s four children — Frieda R. Fair of Milledgeville, Ga.; John R. Rentz and Dr. T. Wayne Rentz Jr., both of St. Simon’s Island, Ga.; and Judge Ronald H. Rentz of Colquitt — established the scholarship to honor their father’s wish to support MCG.

“He loved the Medical College of Georgia and the people from this area and we can think of no better way to honor our father’s wishes nor anything that he would be more proud of than to establish this scholarship with his gift to help train future doctors for Southwest Georgia,” said Dr. T. Wayne Rentz Jr.

Rentz Sr., who died in December 2010, graduated from MCG in 1946.

For more information, contact Sarah Johnston, Georgia Health Sciences University Enterprise Development Officer, at (706) 721-1457 or sarjohnston@georgiahealth.edu