Bill Skinner
UT Track: 1968-1970; Javelin; 1968 — Entered UT in March; won Florida Relays (meet record), Texas Relays, Drake Relays, Quantico Relays (meet record), Dogwood Relays (meet record), SEC Championships (meet record), and USTFF National Championships; 1969 — Won Florida Relays, Penn Relays, Quantico Relays, and SEC Championships; and placed 2nd in NCAA Championships and USTFF Championships; 1970 — Won Florida Relays, California Relays, SEC Championships, NCAA Championships, AAU National Championships, and USTFF National Championships.
Post-UT Track: 1970 — Captain of the US National Track and Field team that toured Russia, Poland, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Norway, and England. 1971 — Captain of the Pan American men’s track team that competed in Columbia, South America; finished second in the javelin to Cary Feldman, the other American thrower.
Military Service: 1957-1961 Aboard USS Canberra CAG-2.
MOS: Shipfitter Third Class Petty Officer [Welder]
Comments from Bill Skinner: I was in the US Navy from January 1957 until March 1961 on active duty. I was aboard the USS Canberra CAG2 as a Shipfitter third class petty officer (Welder) from September 1957 until I was injured and had to have my left shoulder wired together due to a wrestling injury. I was working out at the base gym after returning from a cruise around the world. I spent four months in the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. I was discharged from the hospital and active duty in March 1961.