William E. Skelton, who served as RI president in 1983-84, died 30 August 2008 at the age of 89.

Bill Skelton was a special man. Now, that could be claimed for many a person – especially a Rotarian, and especially a president of Rotary International. Let me tell you what made this man in particular so special.

Bill spent a great part of his life on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va., USA. He pursued his degree in architectural engineering there, and after serving as an officer in World War II, he returned to the faculty. In 1965 he was named dean of the university’s extension division; upon his retirement in 1979, he was honored by the university as dean emeritus.

Even those who know nothing of Bill’s Rotary service know his name: The Skelton Conference Center at Virginia Tech was named for him and his wife, Peggy. In fact, anyone in Blacksburg who does not recognize the name is someone who arrived in town yesterday. There, he was widely known as one who dedicated his life to service to others. Virginia Tech President Charles Steger described him as a selfless volunteer who combined dedication and enthusiasm with considerable skill.

From membership in the small Rotary Club of Christiansburg-Blacksburg, Va., which alternated meeting in those two cities, he rose to become governor of District 7570 in 1969. He served as a director and as Rotary’s first vice president, and in 1981, an RI nominating committee chose him for president.

He was a strong president, and afterward, Bill devoted his Rotary life to helping other RI presidents. He became the most relied-upon, the most sought-after adviser and the most respected senior Rotarian ever. Just look at any official directory since then and see how presidents continued to rely on him for advice and counsel, knowing that he would never turn them down.

When asked to recommend someone to fill a key position, Bill liked to describe to Rotary leaders the kind of person they should look for; he preferred that approach to giving a name. He once told me he had suggested what qualifications were needed for an appointment that I hoped to fill myself. When I asked him whether he advised the appointer to select a “Virginia Tech graduate who now lives in Tennessee, has served previously as vice president, and drinks Jack Daniels Tennessee whiskey,” he said softly, “Well, something like that.”

A widower when elected to the RI Board – his first wife, Virginia, died in 1973 after 30 years of marriage – Bill married Margaret Groseclose, whom he called Peggy, shortly before he began his board service.

Peggy came with him to the 1976 International Assembly, just before he took office. She was determined to support him and began preparing for her new role in Rotary. Later, Bill told us he had found her asleep in their room, after reaching page 3 of the Manual of Procedure! We laughed, but we knew he had told us because he was proud of her, as he always was, for the next 32 years.

Ut Prosim (that I may serve) and Service Above Self – Virginia Tech’s and Rotary International’s mottoes, respectively – were both embodied by this extraordinary man.

I am proud to have been Bill’s classmate and fellow cadet at a small military college, shared reunions at a large university, and rejoiced in his success as university dean, RI governor, director, and president. I’ve been comforted and consoled by him and Peggy during two tragic occasions in my own life. Most of all, I am honored to have known this special man.