Gail Harold Skinner:
CLASS OF 1962
Riverside High SchoolClass of 1962
Painesville, OH
Canyon Del Oro High SchoolClass of 2002
Tucson, AZ
Ironwood Ridge High SchoolClass of 2002
Tucson, AZ
John R. Williams Junior High SchoolClass of 1958
Painesville, OH
Merrick Hutchinson Elementary SchoolClass of 1956
Painesville, OH
Gail Harold's Story
Life
Born in 1944 in Painesville, Ohio. My family group was my Mom and I living with my Grandmother and my Uncle. We moved to Grand river, Ohio in 1950 when I was 6 years old. Went to Merrick Hutchinson Elementary, then went to Riverside High School in the 7th grade. We had our class in one section of the bleachers in the gym during first semester. John R. Williams was being built at the time. They moved us into JRW [7th graders] for 2nd semester. I Graduated from RHS in 1962.
In the 7th grade I joined the Rifle Club that was active at Riverside. This was a club that taught firearms safety and engaged in target shooting. We fired in a NRA sanctioned markmanship program and this became an interest that I continued in from 7th Grade through 12th grade.
Went to DeVry Technical Institute from Oct of 1962 through June of 1964. Graduated and came back to Grand RIver. Enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1965. Served from 1965 through 1970. Came home again. Went to Lakeland Community College from 1971 through 1974 and received an AA degree. Tried to transfer to Cleveland State to finish my 4 year degree, but couldn't get a schedule that would work for me. Returned to LCC and got a 2nd degree, an AAS. During my classes at LCC, I met Marlene, the woman who became my wife. After my second graduation in June of 1977, we moved to Tucson, Arizona. Marlene found work in her job field and I found work at Amphitheater Public School District, working at Canyon del Oro High School as an Audio Visual Technician. I worked there until I retired, finishing up in March of 2002.
While in school at Lakeland, I met a fellow student, Ms. Linda Lee Vecchio, who was a 2nd degree black belt in the Japanese martial art of Aikido. Several of us who were Vietnam veterans began to study with her in September of 1972 and started a club at LCC and also a Community Schools class as well. I continued to train with her until Marlene and I moved to Tucson. I continued to train when we...Expand for more
got here, but soon found myself in a position that required me to beging to teach myself. In January of 1978, I began to teach Aikido in the Amphitheater Community Schools program. I taught class under that program through all of its various title changes until June of 2001. Then I continued to teach my class, but I began to teach under the Town of Oro Valley Parks and Recreation Department, still having my class at CDO where I had worked. In December of 2003, that class closed due to a raising of fees between the school District and the town.
Also, In September of 1999, I was hired by the Campus Recreation Center of the University to teach an Aikido class there to students and others who were interested. I am still teaching that class and am going to start to look into finding another venue to teach is as well. During the years of my study I have had several promotions and currently am ranked as a Rokudan, a 6th Degree Black Belt. My Sensei, Ms Linda Lee Vecchio has advanced in rank also and is now a RokuDan, 6th Degree Black Belt. She continues to teach at Lakeland Community College as well as operating a dojo now located in Mentor, Ohio.
About 1984, I joined Vietnam Veterans of America, Tucson Chapter 106 and have been involved in that group for the past 20 years. Currently I am the VAVS representative at the local VA hospital. I also am a member of the VAVS Board of Directors. As of our latest elections held in April of 2006, I have moved aside from holding any office with the exception of Chaplain and VAVS Representative. I had held one office or another in the Chapter for most of the past 22 years and felt it was time for others to step up. I have also become active in the Tucson Council of the United States Navy League and that has added to my schedule.
Another project that I had become involved in is to work for both the City of Tucson and Pima County Boards of Elections as a Poll Worker. It is a way of giving back for being a citizen.
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