https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/06/us/ted-turner-death?cid=ios_app
RIP Ted. I liked your style.
I briefly met him at one of the national cable TV conventions in Las Vegas.
My father owned Western Cable Services/Enterprises out of Ventura, Calif. (I kinda grew up in the company, at times working full time.) He did a lot of cable TV construction work on the west coast and owned a handful of small systems.
I usually tagged along to the National and Western Show conventions. I can’t remember who was hosting the party, but it was probably HBO or Showtime because it was huge with the drinks flowing and the music jumping. You know the type.
I was mingling and went to find my dad. He was with a small group of guys and gals, and standing next to Ted chatting away with him. I walked up and was quickly introduced to him.
A few moments later, a very attractive woman in the group asked me if I wanted to dance. Like her, I wasn’t not involved in the group conversation and being sufficiently supplied from the bar, I said sure. We danced some fast and slow dances. I didn’t think anything of it, just having fun. I’d glance over to the group occasionally to see if my dad was still there. I started to notice Ted kinda occasionally staring at me.
I was told later that it was his second wife (Jane Smith) who was dancing with me.
