William ‘Dr. Bill’ Skon’s long-time roots both in the neighborhood and in chiropractic are holding him steady in this uncertain time.
The son of two longtime St. Anthony Park residents, Skon has carried on the chiropractic legacy of his father and his own practice, Skon Chiropractic Clinic, 856 Raymond Ave.
With his clinic located close to both University of Minnesota Twin Cities campuses, many of Skon’s patients are from places outside of the United States. They include southeast Asia, north Africa, Russia and Ukraine.
“I just love asking people where they are from and hearing their stories, to find connections,” he said.
Skon’s story is deeply embedded in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood. “My mom (Helen Wingblade) was born in the upstairs bedroom of a house on Commonwealth Avenue. It was storming that day and the doctor came to the house in a horse-drawn sleigh.”
Skon’s grandfather (Henry Wingblade, Helen’s father) was a teacher at Bethel Academy and eventually president of Bethel University and Seminary. He was instrumental in helping the school develop its first St. Paul campus, located across from the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Snelling Avenue.
William Skon Sr., Skon’s father, also grew up in St. Anthony Park The practice, now in its second generation of Skon ownership, moved to its current location in 2014.
The clinic’s space — previously owned by a landscaping business and used to show art — is bright and airy, perfect for the art it now holds made by Skon’s wife, Suzanne Skon (www.suzanneskon.com).
After graduating from Northwestern College of Chiropractic in Bloomington, Skon joined his father’s practice in 1985. His father retired in 1987.
But the current Skon, 71, doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon. “I love what I do,” he said.
Most patients who visit Skon Chiropractic are looking to try it out for a session or two, Skon says. “And I’m happy to do that for people. We call that relief care.
“Others recognize they’ve had a problem for a long time and they come for a few months of care,” Skon continued. “And a third group of folks come in for maintenance care. They realize that they do better if they get regular, or semi-regular, adjustments.”
The most common ailments that Skon treats are neck and shoulder tightness as well as headaches. Skon understands these to be the effects of hours spent working at desks and computers.
Also, many of Skon’s patients are victims of car accidents.
“Many are in rough shape and it’s really fun to take them from not being able to do anything to getting them back to their functional life — which takes time, months or years even. But that’s what makes it great to do this kind of work. It’s quite amazing.”
Skon is also a certified medical examiner, which enables him to provide truck and trailer drivers their required Minnesota Department of Transportation physicals. That helps to stabilize his business, he said.
Skon uses many different kinds of therapies in his practice, including ultrasound, electrical stimulation, a hot water jet table and physical therapy modalities. If a patient needs more expansive care, Skon is well connected to orthopedics, neurologists, and nearby massage therapists — very, very nearby, actually.
“Soul Logic is right next door and they’re great,” Skon said. “They offer massage and acupuncture. I really like having someone right across the hall that we can refer people to for massage.”
Asked if the current federal immigration raids in the local area have affected his business, Skon said, “My practice has been a little slower in the last month — not like during Covid — but enough for me to wonder how much people are shutting down.”
And Skon’s conversations with patients have taken a new tone,
“Now I just apologize to everyone for what they’re going through. If someone comes from a country in rough shape, like Ukraine, I reach out to them and say, ‘It’s so sad to hear about what’s going on in your country.’
“We are now sad to hear about what’s going on in Minneapolis. Who would have ever thought?” Skon lamented. “I mean, people who have been here a long time, residents with passports, are afraid to go outside because of how they look. It’s impacting people’s lives and their bodies.”
When Skon isn’t busy using his skills to bring comfort to people, he enjoys spending time with his three kids and six grandkids (and has an impressive coaching history, having coached basketball and soccer teams for all three of his kids). He is an avid bicycler, averaging approximately 2,500 miles a year, and golfer.
He and his wife also enjoy traveling, particularly to Europe and Florida’s Sanibel Island.
Sarah CR Clark lives in St. Anthony Park and is a regular writer for the Bugle.
