During his junior year, he emerged as a top-notch breaststroke swimmer and was a member of the Dolphins, New Trier's male swim team.

[5] Skelton was suspended for two weeks from Northwestern during his Freshman year for taking a date to a Dance Hall that was not on the school's approved list.

[2] On March 21, 1924, at a meet in Milwaukee, Robert broke the 200-meter breaststroke world record, previously held by Germany's Erich Rademacher.

Skelton finished in 2:56.6, decisively defeating Belgian swimmer Joseph De Combe (2:59.2), and fellow American Bill Kirschbaum (3:01.0).

[6] In August of 1926, Skelton was diagnosed with typhoid fever and after sinking into critical condition was treated at Evanston Hospital, continuing to recuperate through the end of 1926.

At the age of 38, in 1942, he enlisted in the Navy, serving for three years as a Chief Motor Machinist Mate (CMMOM) in the South Pacific, and was later decorated with the silver star combat medal.