Earl Lobark Skidmore

Earl Lobark Skidmore was born Oct 18, 1889 in Richmond to William Lobark and Sarah Armina Knapp Skidmore. Earl was a veteran of World War I.

History

"I was the eleventh child born to my parents. In 1892, a twelfth child was born to the family and my mother died shortly thereafter from infection; the baby also died. Until I was nine years old, my isster Hattie, who was ninteen years older than I, cared for me until she was married. After Hatties marriage, Father's second wife, Aunt Minnie (Charlotta Wilhemina Eklund Pearson), moved into the family home to care for us... She was a warm and wonderful woman and dvout in the Gospel.

"I attended grad school and one year of high school in Richmond. In order to continue my education, it was necessary to go to Logan, Utah which was fourteen miles south of Richmond. Since Aunt Minnies children were young and in need of help, I spent my week-ends in Richmond working on the farm."

After Earl graduated highschool in 1909, he was called to serve a mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Northern States Mission. He was set apart on Nov 16, 1909 as a Seventy by Elder Francis M. Lyman of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. He was released and returned home in 1912.

After his time at Columbia, Earl moved to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Medical Career

"I had made my mind up to become a doctor although financially it appeared an impossible dream. My father and my two married brothers, Charles and George, signed notes with Thatcher Brothers Bank and I took out yearly term life insurance. With this display of family love and confidence in me, I know I could not fail.

"In the fall of 1912, I entered the University of Utah where I completed two years of pre-medical schooling and one year of medical school. At this time, my close friend, Leaver Stauffer, and I decided we could best continue our medical education at on the of the large medical schools located in the east. We both applied for admittance to Harvard medical school.

"While attending the [U], Leaver Stauffer and I were not only frineds attending the same classes, we were also dating sisters. He was going with Ruth and I with Nora Swaner.

"...When I returned to Utah after my summers work in 1915, I was faced with a problem. Dr. Leaver Stauffer and Ruth had been married furing the summer. He had been accepted at Columbia School of Medicine and I had been accepted at Harvard. The sisters wanted desperatly to be together and, since it was only two weeks before classes were to begin, it was necessary to make some hasty decisions. Nora and I were married [Sep 1, 1915 in Salt Lake City, Utah]; I collected my transcrpt of credits, and the four of us traveled to New York. I had no assurance of being accepted at Columbia, but with my wonderful wife by my side, I knew I could not fail.

Once Earl made his way to Columbia, he met with the dean of CSM and was awarded a scholarship for his hard work. He graduated Feb 1918, and moved to Salt Lake City after his internships. Some of his accolades are:

• President of the County Medical Society

• Honorary President of the State Medical Society

• Chief of the L.D.S. Hospital staff

• Chairman of the committee to supervise the building of Utah State Hospital for Crippled Children

• Member of the Salt Lake Board of Health for 34 years

• Board member of the Salt Lake Country Club

• Board member of the Knife and Fork dinner club

• Board member and later President of the Medical Arts Building

• President of the University Club

• Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons

• The Rank of Commander in the Navy in charge of the mobile hospital units for the Intermountain West during World War II

• Member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity

• Salt Lake Surgical Society.

Military Service

World War I

"The United States was engaged in World War One and we were advised that the military was in need of more doctors. A special examination was gien to all senior medical students. I passed the examination and was given the rank of First Lieutenant in the medical department. We were advised to continue our education through the summer months and graduated February 28th, 1918, instead of the usual June graduation date. The war came to an end before I could be called to active service.

World War II

During World War II, Earl served as Commander in the Navy in charge of the mobile hospital units for the Intermountain West.

Epilogue