Jackson Free Press

"/> William Louis "Bill" Skinner, II, a Mississippi native, was born into a family of Mississippi Law Enforcement, and has continued that legacy to this day.

Bill, the oldest son of Minette Skinner and the late Louis Skinner, was born February 9, 1959, at the Holmes County Community Hospital in Lexington, Mississippi. After the birth of Bill's younger brother, Michael, in September of 1961, the Skinner's moved to Jackson, Mississippi where Bill's father was a member of the Jackson Police Department. Louis Skinner joined the Jackson Police Department as a raw recruit in October of 1960. In September of 1962, Bill's youngest brother, Chris, was born, and for the next nine years, the Skinner household was very busy. The Skinner boys, as they were known in the neighborhood, enjoyed the all American childhood with parents that made sure they were involved in church activities as well as sports. By 1971, Bill's father, Louis, had progressed to the rank of Detective Lieutenant with the Jackson Police Department, and began to head a new FBI Intelligence Unit in Jackson. On August 18, 1971, seventeen Jackson Police Officers joined seventeen FBI agents in a joint effort to apprehend a Republic of New Africa (RNA) fugitive wanted by the Detroit Police on a murder warrant. As a result of the confrontation, a gun battle erupted lasting about twenty minutes. In that twenty minutes, Bill's father was shot by one of the RNA members and never regained consciousness. Twenty-one hours later on August 19, 1971, Louis died. After Louis' death, the police-training academy in Jackson was named "William Louis Skinner Police Training Academy" in his honor.

After Bill's father's death, his mother, Minette, furthered her education while raising 3 young boys (Bill was twelve, Mike was eleven, and Chris was eight). She enrolled in Hinds Junior College, Raymond, and graduated as a special honor student. She then entered Mississippi College, Clinton, and graduated with distinction having earned her Bachelor of Science degree in education. In the fall of 1981 she became a full-time teacher at Robert E. Lee Elementary School in Jackson and spent the next eighteen years there. In August of 1998, she retired, and afterwards was inducted into Alpha Delta Kappa national teacher honorary. Minette now divides her time between her grandchildren and spends many weekends in Lexington helping to take care of Bill's grandmother, Ruth Moore. Bill's younger brothers Mike and Chris, are career law enforcement officers. Mike is a Lieutenant for the Hinds County Sheriff's office. He is married to Nicole Berryhill Skinner and they have one son, Michael Louis Skinner. Bill's youngest brother, Chris, worked for 19 years as a Lieutenant for the Hinds County Sheriff's office, but is presently employed as a Captain of Security at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He is married to Judy Newton Skinner and they have two sons, Christopher Wesley Skinner and Brett Lawrence Skinner.

Bill attended Marshall Elementary School, Peeples Junior High, and Wingfield High School, all in Jackson. In 1980, Bill, following in his father's footsteps, graduated from the William Louis Skinner Jackson Police Department Training Academy as a Certified Law Enforcement Officer. He patrolled Precinct One for three years and Precinct Three for seven years. Bill became a Jackson Police Department Training Instructor for four years and a member of the Pistol Team for two years. In 1982, Skinner joined the Jackson Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and was their primary door entry person for thirteen years with nine years as a trainer. Bill has trained SWAT teams all over Mississippi. As a Jackson Police Officer, Bill received two Distinguished Service Stars and a nominee for the Billy Hickman award and was nominated numerous times for Officer of the Month and Officer of the Year. He served on the Board of Directors of the State SWAT Association and was second Vice-President of the Jackson Police Officers Association. While employed for Jackson Police Department,

Bill attended Hinds Community College and in 1990, Bill received his Associate of Science Degree. He then enrolled in Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi (MC), to pursue his Bachelor's Degree. After receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree, Bill entered MC's Graduate School to receive his Masters Degree. On August 31, 1992, as a Jackson Police Officer, Bill was injured in the line of duty. Due to the extensiveness of the injuries, Bill was no longer physically able to be a police officer and was forced to take a medical retirement from the Jackson Police Department in May of 1994. To date Bill has undergone eleven shoulder surgery's, as a result of his in the line of duty injury. In 1998, Bill graduated from Mississippi College School of Law. In January of 2000, Bill opened his own law practice, Skinner & Associates, LLC, in Raymond, Mississippi. Bill's primary practice was Family Law and Involuntary Drug and Alcohol Committals. Bill is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association and the Hinds County Bar.

He is a certified mediator through Southern Arbitration and Mediation. On November 22, 2000, Bill was elected Hinds County Justice Court Judge for District Four, receiving almost 72% of the vote in a special election. As a Justice Court Judge, Bill was the first judge in Hinds County Justice Court to use alternative sentencing for convicted criminals, which required defendants to attend and successfully complete such classes as, drug and alcohol counseling, anger management, domestic violence counseling and perform community service. Bill was also instrumental in developing a Bond Probation program, which allowed defendants to be released on bond and have them report to a probation officer. This reduces the likelihood that they will commit another offense while they are awaiting trial. He assisted in the draft handbook for the Crime Victim Compensation Program for the State of Mississippi and also assisted the Mississippi's Coalition Against Domestic Violence in drafting legislation to amend a law that would revise the domestic violence provisions of the warrantless arrest statute. Bill is currently enrolled at Jackson State University, where he has completed the classroom requirements for the Public Policy and Administration Ph. D. Program, and is presently working on his dissertation, which, will address the current Domestic Violence statutes and their effect on reducing the cycle of domestic violence.

On August 15, 1995, at Sugarland Wedding Chapel in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Bill married Angela "Angel" Darlene Terry Skinner. She is the daughter of Charles and Betty Terry of Clinton, Mississippi. Angel was born at Hinds General Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. She has two older brothers: Mitch Terry and Glenn Terry. Angel attended Baker Elementary School, Peeples Junior High, and Wingfield High School. She graduated from Hinds Community College with an Associate of Arts Degree. In 1992, she and Bill attended Mississippi College where Angel received her Bachelors and Masters Degree in Communications with an emphasis on Public Relations. During her graduate studies, Angel was employed at the Clinic for Women of Central Mississippi, in Jackson. She continued her employment after graduation and worked as their billing and insurance specialist until 1999. Angel has remained in the medical field but since moved to Medical Practice Solutions, a billing and management company, to become the Business Office Manager and consultant for MAE Physicians Surgery Center, LLC, an ambulatory surgery center in Jackson. Angel also serves as the Hinds County Republican Party's Secretary and member of its Executive Committee.

Today Bill and Angel have three children: Tiffany Rena' Skinner (20), William "Trey" Louis Skinner, III (7), and Angela Nicole "Nikki" Skinner (1). Tiffany is a student at Hinds Community College, Trey is at Gary Road Elementary School, and Nikki attends Christian Love Preschool in Jackson. Bill and his family live in Raymond, Mississippi, and actively attend Wynndale Baptist Church in Terry, Mississippi. During Bill's leisure time he enjoys walking, martial arts, riding his Harley Davidson Motorcycle, riding dirt bikes with his son, coaching little league baseball, scouting with his son, and traveling each summer with his family.

Bio and picture taken from the official Bill Skinner campaign website