Richard Wilkinson passed away in November of 2013 at the age of 88. Mr. Wilkinson was a beloved teacher and coach at Trona High School from the 51-52 school year until the 54-55 school year. Although he left before I started high school I can tell by how well he was remembered that he left an impression on his students duding the four years he was in Trona.
I know he was in Trona in 1951 because he worked as a lifeguard that summer at Valley Wells. He jumped in the pool and saved me from drowning after I was having difficulty and going under during a water carnival that was held at the conclusion of swimming lessons that summer. I remember that I was 8 years old at the time.