It’s a little downtown courtyard a simple space that reminds those who work at Columbus Bank & Trust of the institution’s history as they shuttle between buildings.

Monday morning, under threatening skies, they named the courtyard in honor of retired W.C. Bradley Co. chairman William B. Turner -- Mr. Bill to many who know him.

Three generations and a couple dozen Turners came to witness the event. Business associates, past and present, were in the bricked space just off Broadway.

Mr. Bill said he was surprised.

"I can't believe so many people that I love didn't let me know this was going to happen," Turner said.

That brought a chuckle.

Billy Blanchard, now the bank's president, apologized "for being sneaky about getting Mr. Turner here." Blanchard's father, Jimmy Blanchard, is a retired Synovus chairman who worked alongside Turner for 35 years.

"My dad told me, 'I don't believe I would have done that,'" Billy Blanchard said of the surprise.

In his home-spun manner, the elder Blanchard told Turner, "if you want to fire somebody for this, fire me."

Turner looks good for a man in the summer of his 89th year.

He still has a firm grip when he shakes your hand. He still drives and keeps office hours at the W.C. Bradley corporate office on Front Avenue.

And in his words, "I'm still dreaming about what we can do next."

When Turner dreams, good things happen in Columbus. Through the Bradley-Turner Foundation, which he spearheaded for many years, Turner's family wealth has made a lot of this community's dreams a reality.

As another retired Synovus chairman and former CB&T president, Jimmy Yancey, stood in the courtyard bearing Turner's name, he put the man's impact into perspective when asked what else Turner's name should be on.

"You couldn't come up with something that would be truly appropriate," Yancey said. "Whatever you came up with would be inadequate."

Columbus is a generous community.

Institutions like the Pastoral Institute, Columbus State University, St. Luke, Brookstone, the Columbus Public Library and many others have benefitted from Mr. Bill's vision and generosity.

His son, John Turner, said his father set an example that others have followed.

"This has been about a lot of people beyond our family," John Turner said. "There is a giving culture in this whole city. And I think he had something to do with that."

Billy Blanchard, a 40-year-old bank president, said Mr. Bill has "been an encourager and adviser.

"He's kind of helped drag me along," the younger Blanchard said. "He has been there for so many people and he has been there for this community."

Chuck Williams, metro editor, can be reached at chwilliams@ledger-enquirer.com.