CNN founder Ted Turner died on Wednesday, May 6. He was 87. "Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement," CNN Worldwide chairman and CEO Mark Thompson said in a statement. "He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN." Thompson continued, "Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognize him and his impact on our lives and the world.