When you walk around the LRCC campus, you see names that are familiar. The Turner Building. The Bennett Library.
But what do you know about the people behind these names?
The Legacy of Robert H. Turner
The Turner Building carries the name of a man whose life was defined by service — first to his country, then to New Hampshire students.
Robert H. Turner served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and later in the U.S. Air Force. When his military service concluded, he returned home to New Hampshire and began a new chapter as an educator. He taught at Concord High School before joining the N.H. Technical Institute in Manchester, where he eventually became Assistant Principal.
In 1967, Turner became President of the N.H. Vocational-Technical College — what we now know as LRCC. From 1967 to 1985, he guided the college through growth, change, and the evolving needs of New Hampshire’s workforce.
Even after retiring, Turner continued to serve, spending fourteen years in the New Hampshire Legislature. His photo and plaque, as shown in the picture above, hang in the Turner Building.
Honoring Hugh Bennett’s Dedication to Students
The Bennett Library stands as a testament to another influential figure in LRCC’s history: Professor Hugh Bennett.
Bennett dedicated 29 years to teaching at LRCC, which was then known as the New Hampshire Community Technical College. (“Community” was added to the college’s name in 1996. We didn’t become Lakes Region Community College until 2008. Learn more about the history of LRCC here.)
Bennett’s commitment to students, his passion for learning, and his long-standing presence on campus left a mark that continues to resonate. Naming the library after him honors not only his years of service but also the countless students whose lives he touched. The photos above show Bennett’s plaque that hangs outside the Bennett Library, as well as pictures of him receiving a jacket and an award from Theodore “Alex” Easton, former president of LRCC.
Seeing their names around campus reminds us that LRCC is not just made up of programs and facilities. It’s the individuals who dedicate their time and talent to LRCC that make it the successful, thriving community that exists today.