FHPL Board Member and Messenger Staff Writer **Introduction–I was fortunate enough to have taught both Jan and Dan a “few” years ago in my favorite classroom, just off “library central,” patrolled by Mrs. Rea Thomas, Librarian then, and the former English teacher of Don Themer, her all-time favorite student!
Dan Skinner was a SENIOR in 1977 and an “All-District” football player on offense and defense, and I remember (I think.) seeing him running on the relay team(s) at track meets. When he wasn’t playing sports or studying Shakespeare, he was involved in enough other school functions to be named “Mr. F. H. S.” And I remember his folks at the “Rabbit Hut,” when it was an early “Forney dining favorite.”
Jan Welch was a SENIOR in 1979 and a “Varsity Cheerleader” (Three years I think.), and I remember seeing her shooting outside shots for the basketball team and going to “State” with O. E. A. I remember visiting the Welch family at and in their “haunted Dr. Hudgins house” on Center Street and seeing the three Welch girls riding bikes around the neighborhood.** I believe that Dan gets the credit for sending me a great story about the “Dan and Jan Skinner Family,” and as I read the composition, I was pretty sure the two of them had collaborated, as the wording and good literary skills made it easy for me to send the story along to you readers, mostly just as they had prepared it. (I hope I did not “mess anything up!”) They were both fine and fun students, and I feel English was always their favorite school subject!
(Dan relates.) My mom and dad, Bill and Elda Skinner, were both “raised” in Forney and attended the old high school (old W. P. A.–built school, now the F. I. S. D. Administration Building on Bois d’Arc Street at its intersection with College Street). They had five children– Vicki, Bill (Jr.), Terry, Jesse, and Dan. Growing up during the ‘60s and ‘70s were the best times I can remember– Forney, Texas, was a great place to raise a family.
We like to think back to the days of the Western Auto Store that M. O. Penny ran and the downtown café where Bob Futrell and Annie Belle Allen worked. It seemed that “everybody knew everybody.”
Jan’s mom and dad, Morris and Saleta Welch, moved to Forney in 1966 and had three children, Alison, Sharon, and Jan. They lived on Center Street, and Mrs. Welch was an F. I. S. D. teacher for many years.
Jan and I married in Forney in 1979 with Brother Jerry Griffin “doing the honors.” We lived in the Plano area for several years until we moved to East Texas and have lived in Quitman, Texas, since 1982. We have three children–Danny, Matthew, and Jamie–and have been blessed with four grandchildren, all living within an hour of us.
One of the things we love to do here in the Quitman area is to be “on the lake.” Yes, we do fish a lot! We have several beautiful lakes here, and it has been a passion since we have moved to this region.
Another passion of mine is old, classic cars, and we have four total–and two of them came from Jan’s side of the family.
The 1st car that we have is a 1968 VW Bug, which Jan’s dad bought “brand new” and drove to work for years! Also, Jan and Sharon drove it during high school, and I think Sharon even drove it during her college years. Morris gave it to us in 1984, and it was a “daily driver” for many years. This jewel with a “standard” transmission has 120,000 original miles, but did have a new engine installed in 1996 and has run 45,000 of those original miles. (Themer: I always enjoyed shifting the gears of those early bugs and also liked asking “noncar” persons to open the hood and check the oil and water!)
When our oldest son, Danny, reached age 15 years, he started driving and needed a car to drive to school. So, we restored the “bug” inside and out, and it was really fun getting this done for our son. (I feel Jan & Dan made that rime just for their “old” English teacher!)
Then shortly after that, our 2nd son, Matthew, got his license, and he also drove the “bug” to school. However, our daughter, Jamie, did not want to drive the “bug.” She had to have a car that was “automatic.” Our 2nd classic car is a 1975 Corvette convertible, and it has been used in weddings and parades– and we have gone on small trips in it. One was to Brenham, where the bluebonnets grow, and we still enjoy this car very much. It, too, has 125,000 original miles on it and has a “rebuilt” engine, which has 45,000 of the original miles.
Our 3rd car is a 1950 Chevy Bel Air, which I bought in 2018 in Shreveport, Louisiana. This car does take you back in time when things were a lot simpler. The “character” of cars during this age was so wellthought- out. It is really a great car for a “Sunday driver,” and we get a lot of comments on it. There are still a few things I would like to update on this car but haven’t decided to do just yet. It sports 110,000 original miles and had a “350” short block installed seven years ago. (If I read Dan’s notes correctly, the engine now has only 2000 miles on it, and this vehicle is an easy one to shift, with an automatic transmission!)
Our 4th auto is a blessing from Jan’s side of the family. It is a 1959 Chevrolet 3100 Apache that Jan’s Grandfather bought new. Grandfather Earnest Welch lived in Seymore, Texas, and was a cotton farmer there for many years. After he passed away in 1978, the truck went to Olney, Texas, where Jan’s Dad’s Sister lived, and the truck stayed there until 2022. We received a phone call, asking if we would be interested in the truck, and, of course, we were! We were thrilled to note its 80,000 original miles and its standard transmission.
I could not wait to get my hands on this truck. When we got there, it was not running, and the tires would not hold air.....but we got it loaded and brought it home to Quitman–and then the FUN and DOLLARS started! Today, it is a great running truck, and I do still drive all four of these vehicles to work and church and often for “country drives.”
**Side note #1** Dan says he has done a lot of work on all the vehicles, but has had some help at different times–and that they will not sell the bug or truck, due to their being “in the family.” However, the 1950 Bel Air and the 1975 Corvette could be “under consideration way down the road.” Two Sons and three Grandsons have now and will have then 1st options to receive them!
**Side note #2** Jan is a fully retired dental hygienist after working 35 years for the same dentist. Dan is still working “some” in the insurance field, where he has been for 30 years and states that he will probably retire in 4 years.
**Side note #3**When I asked if they had ever consid-ered moving back to “good ol’ Forney,” the answer was as follows: “We have never considered moving back to Forney. We have lived in the same house since 1987, and see no reason to leave here! We are so blessed to live where we do and to have the opportunities to pursue hobbies we love. We have great classic vehicles, and thanks to our FAMILIES, we own two pieces of history that have great sentimental value to us.....and the stories live on!”
Jan and Dan, you sound as if you “have it made!” Thanks for sharing!
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