Leonard Skinner, Accidental Rock 'n Roll Icon 6.50K Richard Lawson 09/20/10 03:39PM Filed to: and now he's dead and now he's dead lynyrd skynyrd Leonard skinner Gym teachers Skinner, a Florida gym teacher who, in the 1960s, harshly cracked down on long hair and other hippieisms, died today. Skinner inspired a group of rebellious students to rename their band after him, calling it Lynyrd Skynyrd. Skinner was 77.