WarnerMedia's Techwood campus was named in Turner's honor Friday.
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WarnerMedia's Techwood campus was named in Turner's honor Friday. / GPB News

The founder of CNN and business mogul Ted Turner was honored Friday at a dedication of WarnerMedia's campus in Atlanta.

"We raise our glasses to you Ted,” CNN’s Wolf Blitzer said as he led hundreds of employees in a toast. “The original maverick, pioneer of the media industry, champion of the environment. A true legend. To Ted."

WarnerMedia’s Techwood campus is now named in Turner's honor. The dedication took place in front of the original cite of CNN, where a plaque is now on the building honoring his legacy.

Ted Turner spoke briefly at the ceremony.

"Never have I went through something quite exactly like this,” he said. “And I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Those of you who are with CNN now, carry it on."

But he received more than a plaque and a renaming. A mural of Turner was unveiled on the campus.

WarnerMedia executives also announced a $550,000 grant would be given to the University of Georgia.

Some of the money will be used to set up a permanent exhibition hall and gallery at UGA’s Russell Building Special Collections libraries.

The money will also be used to set up a scholarship fund for students in UGA’s Grady Journalism school. It’ll be a needs-based scholarship.

WarnerMedia announced they will also establish the Ted Turner Maverick internship, which will be only available for UGA students.

The first intern will be accepted in Summer 2020.

Turner sold his networks to Time Warner in 1996.

A mural of Ted Turner at the Techwood campus in Atlanta
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A mural of Ted Turner at the Techwood campus in Atlanta / GPB News