This is an account of some of the events and people that impacted the life and development of an individual born in rural South Carolina shortly after the stock market crash of 1929 and the beginning of the Great Depression. It relates how this individual, born poor but didn't know it, took advantage of available opportunities, worked to provide for his family, and became relatively successful in the process.

Tom Skelton is a native South Carolina and lives in Clemson Downs, a retirement community in Clemson, SC. Formerly a dedicated runner and health enthusiast, his diminished exercise regimen now consists of a trainer supervised workout twice weekly ending with a fast walk on a treadmill-no outside freestyle running through the woods and along the lakeshore.

In addition to a deceased son, Tom has a son who lives nearby, a daughter and son-in-law, nine grandchildren (four with spouses) and seven great grandchildren with the hope and expectation of many more. The entire family gathers at Christmas and for a week at Litchfield Beach in June of each year.

Tom is a retired military office, retired faculty member, retired from most of his business career but not retired from life. He still maintains a rather busy schedule, serves on one board and says he is afraid moss will start growing over him if he does not keep moving.