Turpin was one of my favorites. I knew him a little bit. Very nice guy. He and his wife were good people. well, his wife still is. I was pretty close with his brother for a while. So sad about him. His brother was about 6'10" but didn't play ball. He had other siblings as well I believe, all tall. I really just couldn't believe what happened to him. He and Bowie were so tough.
Funny story his brother told me: when he was in the lodge, coach paid a student manager to sit outside his room and not allow Mel out to eat! Well, Mel being Mel, he paid the student more to sneak food into the room after curfew! So funny.