Career
After serving in the United States Marine Corps from 1945-1946 he began a law enforcement career which included service with the United States Border Patrol, a term as Sheriff of Deaf Smith County, Texas, and investigator with both the United States Customs Service and Drug Enforcement Administration. After his first nationally published article hit newsstands in September 1959, Skelton began writing part-time for firearms periodicals. In 1974 he retired from the Drug Enforcement Administration and concentrated full-time on his writing.
Skelton is credited by firearms writer John Taffin with the revival of the.44 Special round.