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In Memoriam: William E. Skelton

The Virginia Cooperative Extension family mourns the loss of its former director and long-time supporter, William E. Skelton, who passed away in September 2008.

Skelton devoted nearly 70 years to serving Virginia Tech and the surrounding community in various roles, including volunteer fundraiser, reunion organizer, leadership board member, and campaign chair.

Skelton was inducted into Virginia Tech’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Hall of Fame this spring. The Hall of Fame honors those individuals who exemplify career accomplishment and service to the college and university.

After growing up on his family’s tobacco farm in Dinwiddie County, he enrolled in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets in 1936 and worked his way through college, graduating in 1940, with a bachelor’s of science in agricultural engineering.

Skelton began his career with Virginia Cooperative Extension as a 4-H agent in Appomattox. He served as dean and director of Extension from 1965 to 1972. In recognition of his 40 years of outstanding volunteer service to the Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Educational Conference Center, the center was renamed in his honor in 2004.

Skelton was instrumental in leading the effort to build an alumni conference center at Virginia Tech, serving as chair of a committee that oversaw the planning, design, and fundraising for the $45 million center, which included an attached hotel. The complex was named The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center, to recognize the tremendous service to the university by Skelton and his wife Margaret.

Skelton was also known worldwide for his leadership in Rotary International. He served as club president, district governor, president of Rotary International, and had numerous international leadership assignments. He was honored for his role in helping to launch PolioPlus, Rotary’s massive project in support of the worldwide eradication of polio.