http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/hottopics/detail?entry_id=72706
and
Thanks for being the inspiration to one of my favorite bands!
I love this story for some reason.
Ptomaine poisoning last night after dinner, eh?
The smell of death surrounds him. At least he outlived most of the band members!
I was surprised to learn that this guy existed.
I always thought that Lynyrd Skynrd took its name from the character in Alan Sherman’s song Camp Grenada. It’s the first thing I thought of when I heard the group’s name (and Olent evidently recalls it, too.):
From what I read, Leonard Skinner was that one hard ass coach (like) teacher who didn’t like hippies. Supposedly, he made several members of the band who attended that high school to get a haircut.
I don’t know why they would name the band after someone that they detested, but there you are. I am sure alcohol, marijuana and possibly other goodies did the thinking on the name too.
As I heard it this morning, all the band members got sent in by him for detention.
Funny looking name. I wonder how it’s pronounced?
Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nér 
I can totally see it. If this guy detested long-haired “hippie” types, the absolute best revenge you could take against him is make his name synonymous around the world with being a long-haired hippie type.
I doubt they really detested him. When I went to high school, we had a sort of grudging admiration for our gym teachers, even though they did have a tendency to be hard-asses. Young men will respect anybody who talks straight with them and doesn’t try to talk down to them or over their heads. We had one gym coach who was an ex CPO and could have been the inspiration for Mr. Buzzcut on Beavis and Butt-Head. We respected him imensely and did not detest him one bit, though no one admitted to feeling friendly towards him. So I could see the guys in Skynyrd naming the band after him in fun, and not out of any malicious desiret.
Also, Skinner said he was just enforcing the school dress code. Although he did admit to detesting long hair on males, and I’m sure he enjoyed that aspect of his job…
Freebird! Freebird!
One of my favorite quotes, ever, was this gem from our wrestling coach: “If I want any crap out of you, I’ll squeeze your head!”
Oh, it’s burned indelibly into my soul. I got called ‘Lynyrd’ many a time in middle school either by the older 'heads or their younger siblings. (And I’m pretty sure we’re no relation.)
One time, I’m guessing the MDA telethon, Jerry Lewis introduced “Lin-yerd…Skye-nerd…singing ‘Gimme Three Steps’…YEAH!!..who?!!?” If only I could find a recording of that…I know I have that somewhere in my audio cassettes courtesy of Kevin Matthews’ radio show in Chicago…
I have vague memories of that. I also have vague memories of being affronted–didn’t he say something like “thank you Leonard” or have some sort of by the way, which one’s pink moment?