“Please, Call Me Ted”
Theresa King, Vermejo General Manager, shares a guest interaction that captured Ted’s unmistakable authenticity. For all he accomplished, Ted had a way of making people feel at ease, reminding everyone around him that genuine connection often leaves the greatest impression.
Simple Exchange, Lasting Impact
Over the years, I had many opportunities to watch Ted Turner interact with guests at Vermejo. No matter who they were or where they came from, Ted genuinely loved meeting the people who traveled here to experience these landscapes he cared about so deeply.
One memory has stayed with me more than any other.
One day, I introduced Ted to two women visiting Vermejo. They were clearly excited and a little nervous to meet him. After all, this was Ted Turner – a larger-than-life figure whose accomplishments in business, media, philanthropy, and conservation had touched so many corners of the world.
One of the women smiled and said, “It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Turner.”
Without hesitation, Ted replied, “Please, call me Ted.”
She looked a little startled and answered honestly, “I would be really uncomfortable if I called you Ted.”
And without missing a beat, Ted smiled and said, “I would be really uncomfortable if you didn’t call me Ted.”
I remember watching the look on her face shift instantly from nervousness to surprise and ease. In that moment, she realized what so many of us who worked alongside Ted already knew: Despite everything he accomplished, he remained deeply genuine and down to earth.
That interaction may seem small, but it said so much about who Ted was.
He never wanted distance between himself and other people. He wanted connection. He wanted conversations. He wanted people to feel welcome and comfortable, whether they were longtime colleagues, guests visiting for the first time, or someone meeting him unexpectedly in the middle of the New Mexico wilderness.
Ted had an extraordinary ability to make people feel included. He was curious about others, attentive in conversation, and fully present in the moment. Those qualities shaped not only the culture of our teams, but also the guest experience across Ted Turner Reserves.
Hospitality, for Ted, was never just about luxury accommodations or white glove service. It was about creating meaningful experiences and authentic connections in restored landscapes that, in turn, restore our spirits.
That simple exchange at Vermejo remains one of the most endearing memories I carry from my time with Ted. It serves as a reminder that some of the most lasting impressions are not made through grand gestures, but through kindness, humility, and the ability to make others feel at home.
Those qualities are part of Ted’s legacy too.