ROBERT E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK LYNYRD SKYNYRD

Description: ROBERT E. LEE HIGH SCHOOL YEARBOOK LYNYRD SKYNYRD Up for auction is a 1968 Robert E Lee High School yearbook with the famous gym Coach Leonard Skinner, the inspiration for the band name Lynyrd Skynyrd. Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Bob Burns and both Ronnie’s brothers (Donnie and Jonnie) attended the High School in Jacksonville, Florida. There is even a "kid" named Curtis Lowe in the book. Who knows, who else, you can find. As you know, Jacksonville is where it all started, the city gave us some of the best music around, Lynyrd Skynyrd, 38 Special, Grinderswitch, Blackfoot, some of the road crew for the Allman Brothers (for a while), Gram Parsons, Molly Hatchet, and the racing legend Yarborough family. The yearbook has signatures to sophomore Kathy Dunlap, who was a classmate of Donnie Van Zant (he is not pictured). The yearbook is used and in fair condition, 235 pages. Gary Rossington (guitarist for Lynyrd Skynyrd) was a sophomore at Robert E Lee High School in 1967 but after being sent to the principal’s office by Coach Skinner numerous times for dress code violations of long hair he was eventually suspended and quit. (He would have been a junior in this yearbook, but he quit.) You can see the short hair worn in compliance with school regulations in this yearbook. When the band My Backyard, afterwards The Noble Five and finally One Percent, fronted by lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, (guitarist) Gary Rossington, guitarist Allen Collins, drummer Bob Burns, and bassist Larry Junstrom—were searching for a new name for their fledgling rock group in 1969, they drew on memories of Rossington’s incident and “Lynyrd Skynyrd” (vowels changed “to protect the guilty”) was born as a mocking tribute to the stern gym teacher. "Coach Skinner had such a profound impact on our youth that ultimately led us to naming the band, which you know as Lynyrd Skynyrd, after him," said band member Gary Rossington. "Looking back, I cannot imagine it any other way. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time." "It was against the school rules," Skinner told the Florida-Times Union in 2009. "I don't particularly like long hair on men, but again, it wasn't my rule." Coach Skinner was employed as a gym teacher and coach at Robert E. Lee High School until 1969 when he left to start a real estate business. Lynyrd Skynyrd was responsible for such hits as "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird." Three of the band members, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, were killed in a 1977 plane crash, but the survivors toured and recorded until their deaths. Robert E Lee High School changed their name to Riverside High School in 2021. Here’s your chance to own a real piece of southern rock history. See photos for condition. Thanks for looking and good luck bidding.

Price: 95 USD

Location: Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

End Time: 2025-02-05T16:48:59.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6.88 USD