Throughout his lifetime (1932-2010), Dr. Byron Skinner demonstrated great courage and character as a family man, scholar, educator, and civil-rights activist.
At nine years of age in Alabama, he helped support his family by doing odd jobs; at thirteen, he assumed additional responsibilities following his father's death. Married for more than fifty years to the former Gloria Harris, he supported his wife, mother-in-law, and daughters Kiron and Ruby (affectionately known as "Bom-Bom") while pursuing graduate degrees. He also assisted in raising several of his wife's nieces and nephews. Anne, Gail, and Paulette Wise were like daughters to Dr. and Mrs. Skinner and like sisters to Kiron and Ruby.
A scholar, Dr. Skinner was a bibliophile who collected rare books and first editions of U.S. and European history and literature. He maintained his library of more than 4, 000 volumes with such military precision that he could find even the most obscure book at a moment's notice. He spent most of his final years in the serenity of his study, surrounded by his beloved books and classical music.
Though influenced by the multicultural revolution in academia, Dr. Skinner remained committed to the teaching and study of Western civilization and the Western classics. He sought to enrich the canon with emerging scholarship steeped in multicultural ideas rather than reject one or the other.
Dr. Skinner authored books and articles as well as numerous unpublished manuscripts. Declining health prevented him from completing additional writing he had hoped to see published. He was pleased to see his commitment to research recognized, however, when the editor of Palo Alto Review: Journal of Ideas dedicated the 2008-2009 issue to him. Dr. Skinner's dream of enhancing scholarship in community colleges was realized when he founded the journal in 1991. Palo Alto Review has won numerous awards and is the only scholarly journal published by a U.S. community college.
As an educator, Dr. Skinner instilled a love of learning in his students as well as in his daughters and extended family. An elementary and high school teacher in Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area, he taught social studies, literature, and history and coached track teams. His college teaching career began in 1969 at Cañada College in Redwood City. He also taught at California State University at Hayward and Santa Clara University. Some of his most active and demanding years were spent teaching and serving as an academic administrator while he was a full-time student in the Ph.D. program in U.S. history and literature at the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Skinner was appointed dean of behavioral and social sciences at American River College in Sacramento, California in 1977. The following year he awarded his Ph.D. Soon thereafter, he became administrative dean for academic affairs and vice president at San Bernardino Valley College. From 1983 to 1985 he was president of the University of Maine at Augusta, and in 1985 he returned to California to become president of San Jose City College. Dr. Skinner headed to San Antonio, Texas, in 1990, where he was president of both Palo Alto College and St. Philip's College. Longing to return to California, Dr. Skinner concluded his administrative career at Compton College. While president of these colleges, he taught at least one course each academic year and continued his writing activities.
Dr. Skinner stood up for justice and social change throughout his life. He supported the civil-rights legislation of the 1960s and was a member of Citizens Against Racism in Redwood City. He had the courage to speak out even when doing so was unpopular and risky, and he remained prepared to leave a job if his principles were at stake. A member of America's "greatest generation," he was a man of impressive character who took chances to work for positive change and sought to interpret and implement the American creed.
Dr. Skinner passed away after a lengthy illness at the age of 77.
At nine years of age in Alabama, he helped support his family by doing odd jobs; at thirteen, he assumed additional responsibilities following his father's death. Married for more than fifty years to the former Gloria Harris, he supported his wife, mother-in-law, and daughters Kiron and Ruby (affectionately known as "Bom-Bom") while pursuing graduate degrees. He also assisted in raising several of his wife's nieces and nephews. Anne, Gail, and Paulette Wise were like daughters to Dr. and Mrs. Skinner and like sisters to Kiron and Ruby.
A scholar, Dr. Skinner was a bibliophile who collected rare books and first editions of U.S. and European history and literature. He maintained his library of more than 4, 000 volumes with such military precision that he could find even the most obscure book at a moment's notice. He spent most of his final years in the serenity of his study, surrounded by his beloved books and classical music.
Though influenced by the multicultural revolution in academia, Dr. Skinner remained committed to the teaching and study of Western civilization and the Western classics. He sought to enrich the canon with emerging scholarship steeped in multicultural ideas rather than reject one or the other.
Dr. Skinner authored books and articles as well as numerous unpublished manuscripts. Declining health prevented him from completing additional writing he had hoped to see published. He was pleased to see his commitment to research recognized, however, when the editor of Palo Alto Review: Journal of Ideas dedicated the 2008-2009 issue to him. Dr. Skinner's dream of enhancing scholarship in community colleges was realized when he founded the journal in 1991. Palo Alto Review has won numerous awards and is the only scholarly journal published by a U.S. community college.
As an educator, Dr. Skinner instilled a love of learning in his students as well as in his daughters and extended family. An elementary and high school teacher in Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area, he taught social studies, literature, and history and coached track teams. His college teaching career began in 1969 at Cañada College in Redwood City. He also taught at California State University at Hayward and Santa Clara University. Some of his most active and demanding years were spent teaching and serving as an academic administrator while he was a full-time student in the Ph.D. program in U.S. history and literature at the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Skinner was appointed dean of behavioral and social sciences at American River College in Sacramento, California in 1977. The following year he awarded his Ph.D. Soon thereafter, he became administrative dean for academic affairs and vice president at San Bernardino Valley College. From 1983 to 1985 he was president of the University of Maine at Augusta, and in 1985 he returned to California to become president of San Jose City College. Dr. Skinner headed to San Antonio, Texas, in 1990, where he was president of both Palo Alto College and St. Philip's College. Longing to return to California, Dr. Skinner concluded his administrative career at Compton College. While president of these colleges, he taught at least one course each academic year and continued his writing activities.
Dr. Skinner stood up for justice and social change throughout his life. He supported the civil-rights legislation of the 1960s and was a member of Citizens Against Racism in Redwood City. He had the courage to speak out even when doing so was unpopular and risky, and he remained prepared to leave a job if his principles were at stake. A member of America's "greatest generation," he was a man of impressive character who took chances to work for positive change and sought to interpret and implement the American creed.
Dr. Skinner passed away after a lengthy illness at the age of 77.
Throughout his lifetime (1932-2010), Dr. Byron Skinner demonstrated great courage and character as a family man, scholar, educator, and civil-rights activist.
At nine years of age in Alabama, he helped support his family by doing odd jobs; at thirteen, he assumed additional responsibilities following his father's death. Married for more than fifty years to the former Gloria Harris, he supported his wife, mother-in-law, and daughters Kiron and Ruby (affectionately known as "Bom-Bom") while pursuing graduate degrees. He also assisted in raising several of his wife's nieces and nephews. Anne, Gail, and Paulette Wise were like daughters to Dr. and Mrs. Skinner and like sisters to Kiron and Ruby.
A scholar, Dr. Skinner was a bibliophile who collected rare books and first editions of U.S. and European history and literature. He maintained his library of more than 4, 000 volumes with such military precision that he could find even the most obscure book at a moment's notice. He spent most of his final years in the serenity of his study, surrounded by his beloved books and classical music.
Though influenced by the multicultural revolution in academia, Dr. Skinner remained committed to the teaching and study of Western civilization and the Western classics. He sought to enrich the canon with emerging scholarship steeped in multicultural ideas rather than reject one or the other.
Dr. Skinner authored books and articles as well as numerous unpublished manuscripts. Declining health prevented him from completing additional writing he had hoped to see published. He was pleased to see his commitment to research recognized, however, when the editor of Palo Alto Review: Journal of Ideas dedicated the 2008-2009 issue to him. Dr. Skinner's dream of enhancing scholarship in community colleges was realized when he founded the journal in 1991. Palo Alto Review has won numerous awards and is the only scholarly journal published by a U.S. community college.
As an educator, Dr. Skinner instilled a love of learning in his students as well as in his daughters and extended family. An elementary and high school teacher in Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area, he taught social studies, literature, and history and coached track teams. His college teaching career began in 1969 at Cañada College in Redwood City. He also taught at California State University at Hayward and Santa Clara University. Some of his most active and demanding years were spent teaching and serving as an academic administrator while he was a full-time student in the Ph.D. program in U.S. history and literature at the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Skinner was appointed dean of behavioral and social sciences at American River College in Sacramento, California in 1977. The following year he awarded his Ph.D. Soon thereafter, he became administrative dean for academic affairs and vice president at San Bernardino Valley College. From 1983 to 1985 he was president of the University of Maine at Augusta, and in 1985 he returned to California to become president of San Jose City College. Dr. Skinner headed to San Antonio, Texas, in 1990, where he was president of both Palo Alto College and St. Philip's College. Longing to return to California, Dr. Skinner concluded his administrative career at Compton College. While president of these colleges, he taught at least one course each academic year and continued his writing activities.
Dr. Skinner stood up for justice and social change throughout his life. He supported the civil-rights legislation of the 1960s and was a member of Citizens Against Racism in Redwood City. He had the courage to speak out even when doing so was unpopular and risky, and he remained prepared to leave a job if his principles were at stake. A member of America's "greatest generation," he was a man of impressive character who took chances to work for positive change and sought to interpret and implement the American creed.
Dr. Skinner passed away after a lengthy illness at the age of 77.
At nine years of age in Alabama, he helped support his family by doing odd jobs; at thirteen, he assumed additional responsibilities following his father's death. Married for more than fifty years to the former Gloria Harris, he supported his wife, mother-in-law, and daughters Kiron and Ruby (affectionately known as "Bom-Bom") while pursuing graduate degrees. He also assisted in raising several of his wife's nieces and nephews. Anne, Gail, and Paulette Wise were like daughters to Dr. and Mrs. Skinner and like sisters to Kiron and Ruby.
A scholar, Dr. Skinner was a bibliophile who collected rare books and first editions of U.S. and European history and literature. He maintained his library of more than 4, 000 volumes with such military precision that he could find even the most obscure book at a moment's notice. He spent most of his final years in the serenity of his study, surrounded by his beloved books and classical music.
Though influenced by the multicultural revolution in academia, Dr. Skinner remained committed to the teaching and study of Western civilization and the Western classics. He sought to enrich the canon with emerging scholarship steeped in multicultural ideas rather than reject one or the other.
Dr. Skinner authored books and articles as well as numerous unpublished manuscripts. Declining health prevented him from completing additional writing he had hoped to see published. He was pleased to see his commitment to research recognized, however, when the editor of Palo Alto Review: Journal of Ideas dedicated the 2008-2009 issue to him. Dr. Skinner's dream of enhancing scholarship in community colleges was realized when he founded the journal in 1991. Palo Alto Review has won numerous awards and is the only scholarly journal published by a U.S. community college.
As an educator, Dr. Skinner instilled a love of learning in his students as well as in his daughters and extended family. An elementary and high school teacher in Chicago and the San Francisco Bay Area, he taught social studies, literature, and history and coached track teams. His college teaching career began in 1969 at Cañada College in Redwood City. He also taught at California State University at Hayward and Santa Clara University. Some of his most active and demanding years were spent teaching and serving as an academic administrator while he was a full-time student in the Ph.D. program in U.S. history and literature at the University of California, Berkeley.
Dr. Skinner was appointed dean of behavioral and social sciences at American River College in Sacramento, California in 1977. The following year he awarded his Ph.D. Soon thereafter, he became administrative dean for academic affairs and vice president at San Bernardino Valley College. From 1983 to 1985 he was president of the University of Maine at Augusta, and in 1985 he returned to California to become president of San Jose City College. Dr. Skinner headed to San Antonio, Texas, in 1990, where he was president of both Palo Alto College and St. Philip's College. Longing to return to California, Dr. Skinner concluded his administrative career at Compton College. While president of these colleges, he taught at least one course each academic year and continued his writing activities.
Dr. Skinner stood up for justice and social change throughout his life. He supported the civil-rights legislation of the 1960s and was a member of Citizens Against Racism in Redwood City. He had the courage to speak out even when doing so was unpopular and risky, and he remained prepared to leave a job if his principles were at stake. A member of America's "greatest generation," he was a man of impressive character who took chances to work for positive change and sought to interpret and implement the American creed.
Dr. Skinner passed away after a lengthy illness at the age of 77.
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