Born in Marshall, William Ward Turney (1861-1939) became a prominent West Texan. He was elected the first Brewster County attorney in 1887. William married Iva Guthrie (1872-1960) in December 1892 and the couple moved to El Paso, where he was a partner in the firm of Turney, Burges, Culwell and Pollard. That same year, William was first elected to the Texas Legislature, serving in the House (1893-97) and Senate (1897-1903). Turney was known for supporting legislation that helped ranchers’ interests. A cattleman himself, he bought the O-2 ranch in Brewster County, which became one of the largest ranches in West Texas. Specializing in corporate law, Turney represented oil, telephone and railway companies and also served as director of the El Paso branch of the Federal Reserve Bank. His business sense and civic leadership promoted the economic growth and development of the flourishing city of El Paso. Designed by Trost & Trost, the Turneys built their home in the Arizona Rio Grande District in 1906. The house was designed in the classical revival style and included five bedrooms upstairs and one large sitting room, a grand parlor, ballroom, dining room and kitchen on the main level. Over the years, the couple enjoyed giving elegant parties and entertaining dignitaries in their home. The Turneys had no children but enjoyed frequent visits to their ranch and participated in many social and charitable organizations. After William died in 1939, Iva managed family ranchland and businesses, while living out her later years in the Paso del Norte Hotel. Iva donated the home to the city of El Paso, and in 1947 the city leased the building to the International Museum, where Iva served on the board of trustees. In 1959, the museum changed its name to the El Paso Museum of Art and in 1960 Carroll, Daueble & Associates remodeled the building. Iva Turney passed away in 1960. The Turney house, now home of the International Museum of Art, is a tribute to the Turneys and their dedication to their community. (2020)