Longtime Drivers’ Education teachers and veteran Prescott Cogswell Photo credit: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
This is probably a first for me: to write a story about a public school Drivers’ Education teacher. Yet here it is, a blog post about Prescott Cogswell, who was exactly such a teacher in Southern California.
Prescott was born on October 19, 1927, on a family farm in El Monte, a suburb of Los Angeles, during a time when that small town was still farmland. As a young man, he served a stint in the United States Navy during World War II. He was stationed in Newport, Rhode Island, where he served as an archivist. When the war was ended, Prescott returned to Southern California, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree from Pomona College in 1951. He then earned his Master’s degree in Education from California State University, Los Angeles.
Once he earned his degrees, Prescott taught briefly in Calexico, a city in Imperial County, situated on the border with Mexicali, Mexico. Later he relocated to the Riverside area, where he accepted a position at Riverside Polytechnic High School. There he taught Drivers’ Education, and reportedly taught many teenagers in Riverside to drive. In fact, one of his students was renowned professional baseball player Bobby Bonds. Next, Prescott spent several years working in the district’s Audio-Visual Department before deciding to return to the classroom, where he taught History at Central Middle School. He also taught for some years at Lincoln High School. Prescott retired from the teaching profession in 1985, but continued to conduct classes part-time for an additional five years as a member of the emeritus program.
In addition to his work in the classroom, Prescott served many years as an Assistant Scoutmaster, helping youngsters learn an appreciation for the outdoors by leading their monthly camping weekends.
Sadly, this accomplished educator and US veteran passed away April 19, 2025. He was 98 years old. He was interred at Riverside National Cemetery for veterans in Riverside, California.
