Louisiana AFL-CIO President Louis Reine, right, inducts Fred Skelton into the LA AFL-CIO Hall of Fame.

Fred Skelton is surrounded by family and former colleagues after his induction into the Louisiana AFL-CIO Hall of Fame.

Retired Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Fred Skelton was inducted into the Louisiana AFL-CIO Hall of Fame at the union’s annual convention in Baton Rouge on March 5. Skelton, who served as president of the LFT for 18 years, demonstrated “exemplary leadership for all teachers and school personnel,” according to the citation presented at the award ceremony.

A native of Ohio, Skelton taught English in that state before joining the staff of the Ohio Federation of Teachers. He then moved to Louisiana, where he served as a staff representative for the United Teachers of New Orleans before being elected LFT president in 1985.

During his tenure, the LFT grew to become the largest education organization in the state. He represented education’s interests in the State Legislature, and was also called upon to testify before the United States Congress on behalf of teachers and school employees.

While president, Skelton served on the American Federation of Teachers Program and Policy Council, the Dropout Prevention Task Force, the Higher Education Commission of the 21st Century, the Louisiana School District Accountability Advisory Committee, the ProAction Commission for Higher Education, the School Finance Commission and others. He was awarded many accolades for his service, including being named to the national Registry of Who’s Who for his leadership and devotion to teachers and school employees.