29th Annual Alumni Dinner Over 200 alumni and guests
In 1978, George left his job at Ford Motor Company, sold his house, and
gathered at Laurel Manor Banquet
used the profits to start Medical Evaluation Specialists (MES) in Detroit.
Center on Thursday, April 27,
His idea was to provide Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs) to
2017, for the 29th Annual Alumni
commercial and government entities. At the time, he believed there were
Dinner. The dinner is sponsored
other similar businesses operating throughout the United States. As it turns
by the Catholic Central Alumni
out, George invented what would become a multi-billion dollar commercial
Association and recognizes alumni
IME industry. By the time he sold MES to a New York Stock Exchange
and Basilian Fathers who have
Company in 2011, MES was the largest IME and Peer Review company in
lived by CC’s motto by living the
the U.S. and, most likely, the world.
virtues of Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge. The recipients of the Fr. Canning F. Harrison, C.S.B.
George had planned to retire upon the sale of MES. However, he decided to
Distinguished Alumnus Award bring honor and distinction to Detroit Catholic
keep one division of MES – Veterans Evaluation Services (VES) – as a stand-
Central High School. The 2017 honoree was Mr. George Turek ’66.
alone company. VES contracts with the VA to perform Compensation and Pension Evaluations for Veterans seeking disability benefits. When all was
MR. GEORGE TUREK ’66
said and done, George could not stomach the thought of another company
George is one of the CC Alumni who paid his own way through school, and
doing a less-than-stellar job when it came to servicing his fellow veterans.
certainly the only CC Alumnus-of-the-Year who was actually expelled – by
So he took over the 50 person division and turned it into a multi-million
none other than Fr. William Stoba, C.S.B. ’38 – for failing Algebra and Latin
dollar corporation with nearly 1,000 employees and over 20,000 health care
his freshman year! After earning his way back into CC through summer
providers located across the globe. In 2017, under George’s leadership, VES
school, George spent the next three years caddying to earn money for tuition
will surpass its former parent, MES, in sales.
while hitchhiking every morning from Redford to 6565 West Outer Drive to attend the school he loved.
George believes that CC gave him the foundation for success, and he always dreamed of helping CC when he was in the financial position to do so. In 1988, he reached out to CC and began working with the school to develop an organized alumni association. In 1990, he helped recruit former CC principal Fr. Richard Elmer, C.S.B. ’46 to return to CC and lead the charge, renovating an office for his use, as well as purchasing equipment and computers. Nearly thirty years later, CC boasts one of the most organized and effective high school alumni associations in America. George continues to support CC through the Turek Family Scholarship Fund for students who wish to attend CC but are lacking the financial ability to do so. George currently resides in The
Left to right: Labar Morgan ’18, Hayden Kibbey ’19, Connor O’Neill ’18, Matt Young ’18, Tyler St. Clair ’18, and Shivam Chandra ‘18
Woodlands, Texas, with his wife, Linda. He has two adult children, Travis and Jessica, four
By the time he graduated from CC in 1966, George had earned a partial
grandchildren, a number of nieces
scholarship to Eastern Michigan University, where he graduated with a BS in
and nephews, several “adopted”
Industrial Technology. George joined the Navy, received his commission and
family members, and way too
spent the next few years flying A-4s in VA-212 and VT-86 during the Vietnam
many dogs and cats!
era. Upon his discharge from the Navy, commercial pilot jobs were scarce, so he used his VA benefits to pursue and attain an MBA from The University of Michigan. 14
A L U M N I A S S O C I A T I O N • FA L L 2 0 1 7
Right: George Turek ‘66 with his wife, Linda, and children, Travis, and Jessica