David Alfred Skeen, “D.A.” as he was known was born May 13, 1885 in Plain City, Utah, the son of Lyman Stoddard Skeen and Electa Dixon Skeen. His mother died when he was only six years old, and his step-mother, Annie Skelton Skeen “Aunt Annie” provided the comforts of home for him as he grew up. He gained a love of horses from his association with his father and the common interest livestock drew them close together through the years. Before entering college, he worked as a blacksmith’s apprentice for two years in a shop built for him adjacent to the family home. He rode his horse to Logan and kept it there while attending college.
Following his graduation from Utah Agricultural College he went to Chicago with two close friends and they worked their way through the University of Chicago Law School. Upon his return to Utah he established his practice of law with his brother J.D. Skeen in Ogden. He later moved his practice to Salt Lake City. The law firm that he eventually helped to establish became on elf the more prominent firms in the city known as Irvine, Skeen and Thurman.
On November 16, 1910 he married Bertha Kerr. They were married in the Logan Temple. She was a former classmate at the college in Logan. They lived in Ogden until the following July and then they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. Priscilla, their oldest daughter, was born in 1911 and in 1912 they built a home in Sugar House area where LaRae was born in 1913. Eleanor was born in 1918 and Margaret Elaine was born in 1922.
They had one of the first cars in the area and enjoyed going on camping trips and traveled many times to Cache Valley and to Plain City.
In 1923 the home in Sugar House was sold and in the fall they moved into a large brick home at 189 A Street. They also built a summer home in Vivian Park, Provo Canyon where they entertained family and friends and enjoyed the beautiful surrounds. Bertha was noted for preparing delicious meals on the coal range there.
In 1927 Nancy Jane was born and when she was a teenager they moved into the large home at 325 A Street. Lather they sold it and built their home on 225 A Street.
He was the first President of the Salt Lake City Lions Club. Later he became a District Governor of Lions International, and finally became Vice-President and International President of that organization, traveling worldwide in carrying out the duties of his office. As President he was appointed as a delegate to the International Conference in San Francisco that established the United Nations. He always took a vital interest in politics and government, including an unsuccessful campaign seeking the Democratic nomination for Governor of the State of Utah.
