Mr. Wilkins, a Teacher who influenced my life.

A Tribute to Mr. David Wilkins

JBH Wonders, 07/01/2011

I remember Mr. David Wilkins. He taught the Industrial Arts/Woodworking class for several years at the high school that I attended. Mr. Wilkins was a man of small frame, and mild mannered. He seemed to walk with self-determination as if he was always on a mission of some kind. Mr. Wilkins had a gift of being able to use his hands to make anything out of anything or everything (a real life MacGyver). Mr. Wilkins could put a finish on a piece of driftwood and it would be smooth as glass and shiny as a mirror. (Actually, it seems like he did this once).

He taught us by example. In the two years that I was part of his classes, he showed us how to fabricate wicker chair seats from scrap lumber, build cedar chests, build lawn chairs, build dog houses and fabricate fine hunting knives from the leaf springs of a wrecked Buick. (Please note that making knives as a school project was not a problem in this small country school in the ‘60’s as it would be today).

There were other things of course that he taught us. The ones mentioned are the ones that stand out in my memory. I do recall that most if not all of his teachings included props/ “see and say” stuff. He seemed to like demonstrating what he was trying to teach.

Mr. Wilkins helped ignite my interest in electronics where I eventually learned that I had some gifts in this field that led to my 35 year career in electronic design. There was a particular class project working on bookends or some other wood crafting lesson when there appeared one day some military surplus equipment on a table at the back of the classroom.  One could tell it was military surplus because of the olive drab color, odd shapes, and just the general “smell” of it. All of it perfectly innocent of course, but if something like this was seen anywhere near a school or other “public” building today, the feds and black helicopters would have the whole area quarantined before you could drop a hat. Anyway, I digress.

These military surplus items were odd shaped metal boxes with a hundred bolts holding the covers on. I asked Mr. Wilkins what was inside of them. He invited me to open one up. After removing one hundred bolts from the cover, the insides revealed electronic gadgetry that was amazing. It was a work of art. It was beautiful. I did not know what it was of course (then) but everything was neatly arranged and precisely built. (Taxpayer’s money at work no doubt.). Mr. Wilkins pointed out some of the electronic components for me and explained what they do.

Eventually I had everything tore out of those odd shaped metal boxes and my hands had a strange oily smell to it. I don’t recall what we did with all of the parts afterward but the whole experience was educational.

Because of Mr. Wilkins easy-going nature, students sometimes took advantage of him. We called him “Dave” to his face once in awhile or “Pinky” when his back was turned or out of earshot. Everyone liked Mr. Wilkins but adolescents can be annoying sometimes.

Mr. Wilkins never disciplined us for this. He would just calmly say something like “…now students, you must maintain some respect for your teachers…”.

The last time I saw Mr. Wilkins was after collage and after a tour in the Navy. I had been working at this electronic controls factory for a few years and he came to apply for work there. I guess he quit teaching. Anyway, he wasn’t hired there even though I put in a good word for him.

That was the last time I saw Mr. Wilkins.