Rick Jones enjoyed and served the sport of wrestling for 50 years until he passed away too soon at age 61 last year. Starting at Langley HS in McLean, VA, he had the toughness to succeed at the highest college level, at Iowa State University. He then began teaching physical education, which paralleled a long and distinguished coaching career, first at Palatka HS in Florida and then in the later '80s with Thomas Jefferson HS. As head coach at these two schools, he won multiple district titles, a regional title, and over 100 dual meets, and was honored twice as Gunston District Coach of the Year. He then stepped back a bit in his winter coaching, becoming a valuable assistant coach for Woodson, Langley, Herndon, Hayfield, and for his last 23 years, at Robinson Secondary Coach Jones had decided to broaden his range, making a big commitment to international wrestling styles in his springs and summers. He made his mark across the river at the Southern Maryland Wrestling Club, which under his direction became in the 1990s and 2000s one of the premier wrestling clubs on the East Coast. He made 17 trips to Fargo, before, during, and after his sons' years of competition; his program enriched the rosters of many high schools and colleges in the region with multiple state champions, Fargo All-Americans, freestyle and Greco national champions, and even a handful of athletes that participated in world and Olympic teams. During these three decades, he was national team director and served in various capacities on the board of the Virginia Wrestling Association. For his kids, he was known as a man who "coached 24 hours a day." Many athletes attribute their success to Coach Jones, who supported his wrestlers sometimes by secretly financing trips so that indigent kids could go on trips with a national team, or by putting up athletes in his house when they were having trouble at home. He was a loving and caring husband for his wife, Barbara, and an exemplary father to sons Brent, Matt, and Wes (all of whom had outstanding careers at Robinson and beyond), but there are many other wrestlers honoring his memory who looked up to him as a father-figure in their chosen sport.