photo of Vick Knight Vick Knight graduated from Hollywood High School during the final phase of World War II. He enlisted in the United States Navy at 17. His career in California schools dates to 1952 when he graduated from USC and began teaching a 6th grade class in Pico Rivera. In later years, he became a principal, director of curriculum, superintendent and dean of a university’s school of education. The state’s Jr. Chamber of Commerce honored him as “One of California’s Five Outstanding Young Men” in 1959 for his contributions to Science. He is the author of number of books including a series of nationally-adopted Science texts and served 13 years as a local school board member prior to being elected to his current position as RCOE trustee in 2004.

Dr. Knight is past-president of the Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce and was named 1999 “Citizen of the Year” by the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce. A Master Mason, Dr. Knight was named to the Riverside County “Education Hall of Fame” in 2000. The “Vick Knight Public Library and Media Center” was dedicated at Lakeside High School in 2005. The University of Southern California’s Rosssier School of Education recognized him in 2008 as a “shining example to the Trojan Family for his dedicated and tireless service as an educator” and one who has “gracefully balanced teaching and community service throughout his distinguished career.”

The Knight family has lived in Canyon Lake since 1981. They have four adult children and eight grandchildren. Carolyn Knight is an award-winning author and executive editor of the local newspaper, The Friday Flyer.