Who was the inspiration for the name of the band Lynyrd Skynyrd?

In the late 1960s, Leonard Skinner was a no-nonsense basketball coach and gym teacher at Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville Florida. He had a reputation as a strict disciplinarian and hated long hair on boys. On more than one occasion, Mr. Skinner sent a student named Ronnie Van Zant to the principal's office because his hair was too long, a violation of the school's dress code.

Later, Ronnie decided he wanted a little payback so he renamed this band "One Percent" to Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Leonard, at first, was angry at the band for mangling his name but after awhile he warmed to the idea and even introduced the band at a homecoming show in Jacksonville. He actually gave permission for the band to print a picture of his real-estate sign on the inside cover of their third album.

Leonard Skinner hated Rock and Roll music until he died Sept. 2010.