University of Tennessee Athletics
All-American & VFL Bill Skinner Passes Away
October 06, 2015 | Track & Field
Bill Skinner Obituary
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Two-time All-American and VFL Bill Skinner passed away on Monday after a fierce battle with pancreatic cancer.
Skinner was an elite javelin thrower and lettered at Tennessee from 1968-70. He took second at the NCAA Championships in 1969 with a distance of 83.28m (273 feet, 3 inches) and won the NCAA title in 1970 with distance of 82.49m (270 feet, 8 inches). In 1970, he swept the NCAA, AAU and USTFF titles. Skinner set the Tennessee javelin record of 88.96m (291 feet, 10 inches) 1970, which predates IAAF javelin specifications in 1986.
He also captained the United States men's track & field team at the 1971 Pan American Games in Cali, Colombia.
Prior to his track & field career at Tennessee, he joined the U.S. Navy at 17 and served on the U.S.S. Canberra.
Skinner is survived by his wife of 44 years, Nelda, three daughters, Stacy Skinner, Brittain Skinner, and Fallon Skinner, one brother, Charles Skinner, five nephews, one niece, and many friends. Tucker, Yocum & Wilson in Georgetown, Ky., will host the visitation on Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 5-8 p.m. The service will be on Thursday, Oct. 8, at 1 p.m. at 1st Presbyterian Church in Georgetown, Ky.
Memorials may be made to the Disabled American Veterans (www.dav.org). Condolences may be made at www.tuckeryocumwilson.com.
