Clemson
woman for all seasons
Virginia
Cole Skelton ’58
Spring 2005
Ginny Skelton was a young wife and
new mom when she enrolled in Clemson as an education major in August
1955. Yet she still managed to graduate
in three years. Her husband, Tom ’53, M ’56, was in graduate
school at the same time. She recalls, “We studied a lot.”
After graduation, she taught freshman chemistry at Clemson and
then went into business with Skelton Home and Auto stores. In the
late 1960s, the couple enrolled in the University of Georgia, where
Ginny earned a master’s degree and Tom, a Ph.D.
Ginny began teaching in high school and later entered the real estate
industry as co-owner of Skelton Properties. Over the years, she has
been Realtor of the Year, Chamber of Commerce ambassador, American
Heart Association chair, Foothills YMCA board member and much more.
For Clemson, she was the first Alumni National Council female president.
She was Tiger Brotherhood Mother of the Year and later inducted
into full membership, the first person to be honored with both
designations. She’s played a variety of leadership roles from the Foundation
to IPTAY and much in between. A recipient of the Alumni Association’s
Distinguished Service Award several years ago, Ginny Skelton will always
be one of Clemson’s most beloved coeds.