American sports columnist Skip Bayless also has another name, John Edwards Bayless, the 2nd, which he received through his dad, John Edward.
While being a sports columnist, Skip is a sports commentator and a well-known television personality.
Highlights
- Skip Bayless’s father was active in public service, while Levita owned a successful barbecue restaurant in Oklahoma City.
- Despite Levita’s influence on Skip’s career, he revealed a strained relationship with her and credited his grandmother’s housekeeper, Katie Bell Henderson, for shaping his values.
- Skip has two full siblings, namely, Rick Bayless and LuAnne Tucker, who passed away in 2020 due to cancer.
He is mostly known for his work as a commentator on the ESPN2 show First Take with Stephen A. Smith, which he left in June 2016.
After that, he worked on the show Skip and Shannon: Undisputed on Fox Sports 1 from September 2016 to August 2024.
Having recently retired, Skips must probably be wondering what his dad does during his retirement. So follow along to learn more about the lives of the Bayless family.
Skips Bayless’s Father Passed Away In 2021, While His Mother Passed Away In 2018
Skip, 72, was the eldest son among the three children of his parents, John Bayless Sr and Levita Anderson.
His younger brother is Rick Bayless, and his younger sister is LuAnn Tucker, who passed away in 2020 after battling cancer for 8 years.
This is why I wrote what I wrote. https://t.co/mDMvPbZQVb
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) December 5, 2018
Additionally, Edward’s parents, John and Levita, divorced for reasons that weren’t disclosed to the public.
Skip’s dad, John Sr., was the Hutchinson County Commissioner. He was also a Deacon for 25 years at the First Baptist Church of Borger, where he was a member of the Borger Lions Club and Borger Chamber of Commerce.
John Sr. was also the President and lifetime member of the Salvation Army and served as the president of the Borger ISD School Board for eight years.
After Edward’s parents divorced, his dad, John Sr, married Mary Lee Bayless of Canyo, with whom he spent 72 years of his life before passing away on August 18, 2021.
Skip’s mother, Levita Anderson, was a pioneer who owned and operated the Hickory House restaurant in Oklahoma City, which specialized in barbecue.
Levita opened the restaurant with her first husband, John, on the northeast corner of SW 25 St. Western Avenue in 1949. It became the city’s most successful barbecue restaurant.
Anderson ran the restaurant independently for 12 of its 37 years before passing away on March 3, 2018, due to natural causes.
Edward used to work for a restaurant when young but never considered a career path. However, his brother Rick continued the business and became a chef, restaurateur, and television personality.
Skip Unveiled That He Never Had A Good Relationship With His Mom Levita, And Was Raised By His Grandma’s Housekeeper
Skip Bayless recently opened up about his complex relationship with his mother, Levita Bayless, on The Skip Bayless Show.
Unlike his wife, Ernestine, who shared a close bond with her mother, Skip revealed that he does not miss Levita, as she never showed him love or care during childhood.
“No, I don’t miss my mother. How do you miss someone who never loved you?”@RealSkipBayless explains how his mother impacted him and his career: pic.twitter.com/bywABrTe6D
— The Skip Bayless Show (@SkipBaylessShow) May 18, 2024
Despite this emotional void, he described her as having a remarkable personality and credited her influence for many of his successes.
He further adds that Levita instilled discipline by ensuring he attended church every Sunday, which was done only to impress Levita’s mother. He also insisted he take public speaking lessons as a child because his mother had made her take the same lessons.
Furthermore, Skips goes on to say that amidst a chaotic family where his parents often drank, he sought refuge with his grandmother and her housekeeper, Katie Bell Henderson.
Katie provided the stability and care that Skip’s home life lacked, teaching him right from wrong and acting as a maternal figure.
While Skip acknowledged his mother’s indirect contributions to his achievements, he credited Katie Bell for shaping his values and providing emotional support.
Additional Infomation
- Skip’s dad, John Sr., served an extra term as President of the Borger ISD School Board so that he could hand his daughter Leanne her high school diploma.
- Skip Bayless’s nickname originated from his father, who called his mother Skip, the ship’s skipper. The name stuck, and his parents never addressed Bayless as John, eventually legally changing his name to Skip.
- Skip Bayless’s mother, Levita Anderson, once reflected on the family barbecue business, saying, “We opened with money in the register and our inventory, that’s it. We served three generations of customers in that building.”
