Class of 1949
1949 Maroon Spotlight
Gay Skinner
Football ’45-’49; Basketball ’45-’49; Football Co-Captain ’48-’49; Home Room Vice-President ’47-’48; D. E. Club ’48-’49.
1949 Graduation EditionPerry Daily Journal
Gaylord Wilson Skinner was one of the stars on the 1948-49 Maroon football squad and served as co-captain of the team. Other than football, he made a name for himself on the PHS basketball team while playing two years.
Gay held the vice presidency of the senior class this year and is a member of the lettermen’s club and Teen Town.
He was born July 26, 1930, in Cleveland, Okla., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Skinner, 903 Ivanhoe street. If his plans come through he will be a student at Oklahoma A. & M. college in Stillwater next year.
Gaylord Wilson “GW” Skinner
July 6, 1930 – March 18, 2013
Gaylord Wilson Skinner died peacefully in Austin, Texas on March 18, 2013.
Born born July 6, 1930, in Cleveland, Oklahoma, he was the son of Ralph Valentine Skinner (deceased) and Vivian Louise Wilson (deceased) and raised in Perry, Oklahoma.
Gaylord (GW to all who knew him) was very popular in the school and the small community of Perry. He was an accomplished all around athlete, gaining All State honors in football which translated into a football scholarship in Oklahoma.
Gaylord proudly served in the Korean War with the United States Army. While in Korea he was attached to the 179th Regiment of the 45th Infantry Division as a leader of an Army Ranger unit. His unit engaged in numerous battles with the enemy. Gaylord was awarded the Bronze Star for his meritorious service in combat.
After discharge from the Army, GW began his career in oil field service work. Beginning as a roughneck in 1952, he advanced to become a widely known – if not legendary – snubbing engineer. The world-wide demand for his services led him to live in Venezuela, Longview, Texas (where he raised his family), Peru, Holland, Australia, Jakarta, and Singapore.
After retirement in 1993, Gaylord lived in Austin, Texas. His many pleasures were Cowboys football, OU football, UT football, fishing, dinner with family, and jaw-jackin’ with his friends at the coffee shop.
He was the brother of John Thomas Skinner and Lou Ann Skinner, father of Dr. John Skinner (deceased) (Suzanne), Rick Skinner (Carolyn) and Randy Skinner (Donna), grandfather of Drew (Amy), Devin, Taylor, Stephanie, Graham and Katherine, and great-grandfather of Phoebe, Audrey, and Julia.
Gaylord has generously donated his body to the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.