Leonard Skinner”Lynyrd Skynyrd” Dies

Leonard Skinner”Lynyrd Skynyrd” Dies:Leonard Skinner, basketball coach and gym teacher, who inspired the name of the Southern rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd, died Monday in Florida, his daughter said. He was 77.
Leonard Skinner died in his sleep at St. Catherine Laboure Manor in Jacksonville, where he lived for about a year, his daughter Susie said Moore. Skinner had Alzheimer’s disease.
He worked at the Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville in the late 1960′s, when he sent a group of students in the principal’s office, because their hair is too long. Those students who later formed the group, using variations of the name Skinner for his own.
In an interview in January 2009, Skinner said he was always bothered by how the legend has grown to say that he was especially tough on members of the team that he beat or from school, according to the Florida Times-Union, which first reported , Skinner’s death.
“It is in the school rules,” Skinner said at the time. “I do not particularly like long hair on men, but again, it’s not my rule.
The group became popular in the mid 1970′s, with hits like “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird”. Three of the group, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, were killed in 1977 plane crash. With regrouped and continues to perform today.
Years after sending young students in the office, Skinner found his son listening to the album titled “Pronounced Leh-Nerd Nerd Skin.” The son, also named Leonard said that his father was not particularly impressed.
Following the discovery of connection Skinner eventually made friends with some of the group, depending on the paper. They even played in the bar Jacksonville former coach of ownership.
Skinner later allowed the band to use his photograph of Leonard Skinner Realty sign for the inside of their third album, and he once again presented their concert at Jacksonville.
Skinner’s children said their father had never been completely satisfied with involvement in the group, but to grow to embrace it.
“He made many new friends,” said Moore. “That in itself is really brought a lot of wonderful people in our family, simply because they are Lynyrd Skynyrd fans, and they wanted to meet Dad. They loved it. They are part of our big family now.”