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Rick Knoles would be smiling

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Contributed by: Rich Romine on 9/27/2007

Richard "Rick" M. Knoles had to be smiling on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007, during a memorial service celebrating the life of a teach and coach in the Oxnard Union High School District.

In February of 1974, I was a sports writer in Oxnard and my friendship started with Rick, who in those days was coaching track and field and cross country.

After Knoles retired from teaching and counseling, we hooked up again as he was coaching freshmen football at Camarillo, Pacifica and Santa Paula high schools.

So whenever Rick called in a score, it was truly a blessing to chat with an old friend.

There were so many coaches and teachers on hand to celebrate and honor Rick .

Ron Taylor, a former freshmen coach at Camarillo, had everyone laughing.

The video was touching of Rick and Sharon, family and grandchildren.

After all these years, it was truly an inspiration to meet Sharon Knoles and daughter Kim Lockwood.

Pastor Leonard DeWitt provided an interesting memorial message, touching on Tony Snow's personal account of having cancer.

The reception following allowed all those to see old friends from the schools Rick touched over the years.

Rick was born Feb. 1, 1943 in Modesto and the Santa Paula resident died on Sept. 19, 2007.

Rick wasn't the only coach to leave Ventura County.

Marsha Dedrick, a former St. Bonaventure and Temple Christian coach, passed away and her life was celebrated on Sept. 23 at St. Bonaventure. Marsha came to Oxnard College in 1982 and played basketball and then went to California Baptist in Riverside to continue her basketball and education.

Over the years, I would see Marsha on the sidelines of St. Bonaventure football games.

Rick and Marsha were good role models for the high school student-athletes.

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