Dr. C B Skelton

C. B. Skelton, MD, is a retired family practitioner who served more than 42 years in the small town of Winder, Georgia. At one time or another, his practice included all facets of medicine: orthopedics, surgery, obstetrics and even anesthesia. He made house calls for many years as he watched his profession burgeon greatly in scientific accuracy while it lost much of the trust and love manifested in the patient/doctor relationship.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1926, Charles Bryant “Red” Skelton entered the world as the tenth of a dozen children sired by Newton A. Skelton. Five of the children had been born to the former Ethel White. After Ethel‘s death “Red” (later to be dubbed “Doc,) debuted as the fifth child born to the Newton’s second wife, the former Rosa L. Turner. The depression hit shortly after his third birthday, and Doc’s family lost their home. Now in abject poverty, the family became tenant farmers. Doc knows what it is like to plow a mule. In fact, he was at one time a regular plow-hand on a rented Clayton County farm that is now part of the Atlanta airport.

Graduating before he was 16 from Russell High School in East Point, Georgia, Doc worked his way through Mercer University from whose campus he was drafted (with his AB degree), at age 18. In the army, he was selected for Officer Candidate School and trained for duty as an infantry officer in the planned invasion of Japan. The Hiroshima & Nagasaki bombs precluded that invasion, and Doc feels very strongly may have saved his life. His assignment then was in Europe, as the special investigations officer for a graves registration group that located, disinterred, identified and gave proper burial to American service men buried in graves scattered throughout the country sides of France, Germany and Austria.

After completing his army tour, Dr. Skelton enrolled in The Emory University School of Medicine. While there, he married Nora Louisa Hart. Completing medical school in 1951, the couple moved to Shreveport, La, for an internship and then to Monroe, La, for a residency. The Skeltons invaded Winder in July 1953 with one-and 8/9ths children. They would complete their family of five girls in fairly rapid order.

Slightly more than a year after Nora’s death in 1988, Doc married the beautiful Mrs. “Penny” Morris, the mother of two and widow of Winder High School graduate, John O. Morris. Between the two, they claim 15 grandchildren and 15 wonderful great-grandchildren.

During the last three years of his medical practice, Doc began to write an unusual column -- a weekly, rhymed feature for The Barrow Eagle, and he continued for more than five years until the sale of that paper. He took a hiatus of a few years before transferring to The Barrow County News and restarting his column as Random Rants in Rhyme. He has published more than 800 columns, some of which he has set to music. His work has been acclaimed by many people, and brought about his being nominated for (but not selected as) Poet Laureate for the State of Georgia by Senator Paul Broun of Athens, Ga. He has been named “Official Poet” of Winder, Ga. and Poet Laureate of Barrow County, Ga.

Doc is also a humorist and claims a distant relationship to the famous Red Skelton, who he claims is “my last cousin.” In fact, his first report-card was issued in the name of “Red” Skelton because of his own flaming natural coif. His humor often reflects in his column as it does in the two books he has authored, Fil-Osophy / Phool-Osophy and Dirty Laundry don‘t take no Doctor‘s Orders. For three years he appeared regularly as a story-teller and musician on the Paul & Bill Show on TV channel 34 out of Athens, Ga.

A citizen involved in community affairs, a family man, an unashamed Christian with a conservative philosophy, an interest in current events, a love of telling stories and teaching life lessons -- all of these facets show themselves in his column. Hence the Random Rants in its title.

Dr. Skelton loves his work with the Gideons International to spread the Scriptures worldwide. He is a Sunday School teacher and conducts frequent Bible studies or musical programs in community service organizations or assisted living facilities in the community.

Invite him as a speaker or entertainer for your special meeting.