Robert D. Hicks started wrestling at Tilden Tech in 1926 and retired from coaching in 1958.

He led his teams to 27 city titles and state championships in 1946 and 1952. His teams finished second in the state in 1942, 1945, 1948, 1950 and 1958 while finished third in 1938, 1947, 1951, 1953 and 1954.

Hicks coached 20 state champions, 20 runners-up, 19 third-place finishers and eight fourth-place finishers.

Many of his wrestlers went on to compete in college, placing in conference tournaments while winning seven national titles and numerous All-America honors.

Bill Weick went on to be inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member and also a Helms Wrestling Foundation Hall of Fame member while Arnold Plaza and Walt Romanowski were also Helms honorees.