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Helms Athletic Foundation

The Helms Athletic Foundation, founded in 1936, was a Los Angeles-based organization dedicated to the promotion of athletics and sportsmanship.[2] Paul H. Helms was the organization's founder and benefactor,[3] funding the foundation via his ownership of Helms Bakery.[4] Bill Schroeder founded the organization with Helms and served as its managing director.[5][6] The men were united in a love of amateur athletic competition.[7]

The organization became well known for presenting awards and trophies for local, national, and international competition, naming the Southern California Player of the Month and Year, national championships in college basketball and college football, Rose Bowl Player of the Game, Coach of the Year, Pacific Coast football player of the year, and other such awards for athletic achievement. Schroeder described himself in 1967 as a "committee of one" in selecting the championship teams.[8] The organization dedicated Helms Hall in 1948, which housed a museum for sporting artifacts as well as the Helms Hall of Fame.

Following the death of Paul Helms in 1957 and the eventual closure of Helms Bakery in 1969, Schroeder sought new benefactors. The organization continued under a series of new sponsors as the United Savings–Helms Athletic Foundation, Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation, and First Interstate Bank Athletic Foundation. Schroeder died in 1987. Under the direction of Peter Ueberroth the Helms Athletic Foundation collection, library, and archives were absorbed into the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles, later renamed the LA84 Foundation.

History

Founding

Schroeder brought to the partnership a large personal collection of sports memorabilia.[6][1] He sought a corporate sponsor to finance a hall of fame to house his collection and to present awards to local athletes.[6][7]

The idea was taken seriously by Paul Helms, who was himself invested in athletics both personally and professionally.[7][2] The bakery with which he made his fortune was a sponsor of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics,[2] and "Helms Olympic Bread" continued to be associated with the competition. The organization was originally known as the Helms Olympic Athletic Foundation.

In 1936, with Helms' backing, Schroeder set to work from a rented office in downtown Los Angeles.[7] As the organization's only employee, he issued frequent announcements of the selections he made for the Helms Athletic Foundation's various and numerous awards.[9]

Helms Hall

The organization dedicated Helms Hall in 1948.[9][1] The purpose-built building adjacent to Helms Bakery near Culver City housed a museum for the sports artifacts originally collected by Schroeder, as well as the Helms Hall of Fame.[7]

Schroeder selected the organization's national champion teams and made All-America team selections in a number of college sports, including football and basketball.[8] The Helms Foundation also operated a hall of fame for both college basketball and college football. Besides collegiate athletics, the organization operated halls of fame for professional football, Major League Baseball, the Pacific Coast League, basketball, fencing, golf, tennis, swimming, auto racing, track and field,[10] and soaring.[11]

Later years

After Paul Helms' death in 1957, his family continued supporting the organization until 1969, when the bakeries went out of business.[12][5] Schroeder found a new benefactor in United Savings & Loan,[12] and the organization's name became United Savings–Helms Athletic Foundation.[13][14] United merged with Citizens Savings & Loan in 1973, when the organization became the Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation.[12] It was again renamed in 1982 when First Interstate Bank assumed sponsorship, and it became the First Interstate Bank Athletic Foundation.[15][16]

When the Helms Foundation dissolved, its historical holdings were absorbed into the collection of the Amateur Athletic Foundation, renamed the LA84 Foundation in 2007.

National championship selections

  1. ^ "A 'championship' is something that is won, most generally on the field of play against direct competition. A 'title' is something that is given or awarded by someone else, in honor of an achievement or as a designation of being considered the best at something. While it is generally true that winning a championship also involves a title being associated with it, the converse does not always hold. In many cases, a title can be given without a formal championship or competition being held at all. In other words, being awarded a title does not necessarily confer that a championship was even present much less attained. In earlier years of collegiate basketball, there are many titles that can be claimed, some which are associated with winning a tournament (e.g. NCAA Tournament or NIT) and some which are not (Associated Press #1, highest attendance, top Sagarin Rating). The latter do not constitute a championship. It is into this group that the Helms title falls."[19] — Jon Scott, BigBlueHistory.net

Pro Football Hall of Fame

Helms Athletic Foundation selected players, coaches and administrators from 1950 through 1960 to its pro football hall of fame.[58][59][60][61] Contrary to other halls of fame, some members were selected during their active playing/coaching careers.

Dan Reeves wasn't inducted to the hall, but he received a "special award" for his "contribution to professional football in Los Angeles" during the 1950 inaugural class ceremony.[62]

World Trophy

The Helms World Trophy,[65] originally known as the Helms Award[66] and also referred to as the Helms Trophy,[67] was an annual sporting award established by the Helms Athletic Foundation from 1939 to honor the foremost amateur athlete of each continent of the world, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.[68]

Although the Foundation was established in 1936, the awards date back to the 1896, the year of the first Summer Olympics.[69][70]

After the initial committee selection, amateur athletes were nominated by their own countries for consideration by the foundation. Winners were presented with a silver plaque and had their names added to the World Trophy that was located at the Helms Foundation, and subsequently the Amateur Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles (now known as the LA84 Foundation). Winners can only win the award once.[71]

Winners

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Sayre, Joel (November 19, 1956). Luce, Henry R. (ed.). "The Olympics' Best Friend: Mr. Helms and his Happy Hobby". Sports Illustrated. Vol. 5, no. 21. pp. 109–115. Retrieved September 16, 2024. A California baker with an Olympian's heart devotes time and money to honoring—and enshrining—athletes of all nations, races and creeds.
  2. ^ a b c "Famed sportsman, Paul Helms, dies". The Birmingham News. Birmingham, Alabama. Associated Press. January 6, 1957. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d "Helms Athletic Foundation — Collegiate Basketball Record — Part II" (Press release). Los Angeles: Helms Athletic Foundation. February 1943. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  4. ^ Thus, the name was a misnomer, as there actually was no foundation in place to sustain the operation.
  5. ^ a b Jares, Joe (September 7, 1970). "A Baker's Dream Needs Dough". Sports Illustrated. pp. 18–21. Retrieved November 22, 2022. Sparked by a sports fanatic and sponsored by a Los Angeles baker, the Helms Hall achieved world renown, but it soon may be only history too, for it can find no new backers and eviction day is coming.
  6. ^ a b c Thomas, Pete (December 24, 1987). "Bill Schroeder, 83, Dies; Began Helms Museum". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d e McBride, C. E. (January 13, 1951). Written at Los Angeles. "Two Men's Love of Athletics Led to the Helms Foundation". The Kansas City Star. Kansas City. Retrieved November 17, 2022. Bill Schroeder had an idea for promoting sports competitions and presenting awards and Paul Helms had wealth to make the program possible.
  8. ^ a b Jenkins, Dan (September 11, 1967), "This Year The Fight Will Be in the Open", Sports Illustrated, vol. 27, no. 11, Chicago, IL: Time Inc., pp. 28–34, retrieved March 16, 2016, The director of Helms since its beginning, Bill Schroeder, did the work, and he now heads the committee that selects No. 1 after the bowl games. "A committee of one—me," he says.
  9. ^ a b McConnell, Jim (August 19, 2008). "Helms bread rose from Olympic ties". Long Beach Press Telegram. Long Beach, California. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  10. ^ "Twenty-One Greats to be Enshrined in PCL Hall of Fame". Pacific Coast League. Retrieved 2007-01-17.
  11. ^ Cumming, M. (1966). The Powerless Ones: Gliding in Peace and War. Frederick Muller Ltd., London
  12. ^ a b c Drooz, Alan (January 15, 1981). "New Home Being Sought for Southland's Sports Hall of Fame". Los Angeles Times. p. 12. Retrieved December 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Hall, John (August 31, 1976). "So Help Me". Los Angeles Times. Part III, p. 2. Retrieved December 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Raymond Lewis, Verbum Dei Guard, Named Top CIF 'AAA' Basketball Player For '71 Season" (Press release). United Savings–Helms Athletic Foundation. March 24, 1971. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
  15. ^ "RALPH SAMPSON, JAMES WORTHY TOP 1982 COLLEGE BASKETBALL ALL-AMERICA TEAM SELECTIONS" (Press release). First Interstate Bank Athletic Foundation. April 3, 1982. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
  16. ^ "Templeton Makes Public Apology, Rejoins Cardinals for Road Trip". Los Angeles Times. September 15, 1981. Part III, p. 4. Retrieved December 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b c d e "Slants on Sports: Helms Foundation Basketball". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. June 8, 1962. Retrieved November 19, 2022. The selections cover from 1900 to the present, but they have been made annually only since 1943. The 1920–1942 selections were made early in 1943, and the 1900–1920 data was not compiled until 1957, and then only after exhaustive study.
  18. ^ a b "Wildcats of 1933". Lexington Herald–Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. February 25, 1943. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  19. ^ a b c Scott, Jon (Nov 9, 2010). "The truth behind the Helms Committee". Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  20. ^ Anonymous, "How the NCAA Overtook Its Rival, the NIT," Sport History Weekly, March 24, 2019 Accessed May 4, 2021
  21. ^ Fraley, Oscar (April 7, 1943). Written at New York. "Wyoming Hailed as Team of the Year". Great Falls Tribune. Great Falls, Montana. United Press. Retrieved December 26, 2023. An exhaustive survey completed by the Helms Athletic foundation of Los Angeles awarded the college team crown to the Cowboys of Wyoming [...] won 30 of 32 games this season to succeed Stanford as national champion. [...] won the NCAA championship and then topped it off by defeating St. John's, New York national invitation tournament kings, for the mythical championship of the nation.
  22. ^ Fraley, Oscar (April 6, 1944). Written at New York. "In Cage Selections Made By Helms Foundation Army Is Voted Top Quintet". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Cincinnati, Ohio. United Press. Retrieved December 25, 2023. Army was rated as the nation's No. 1 team despite the fact that Utah's Cinderella Kids won mythical national honors in postseason tournament play which was ruled out for the Cadets.
  23. ^ "Aggies Bring Home More Caging Honors". The Daily Oklahoman. April 6, 1945. Retrieved December 27, 2023. The annual basketball selections of the Helms Athletic Foundation were announced Thursday and the Oklahoma Aggies, undisputed national champions, made an almost-clean sweep of the laurels. [...] Aggies—Ranked No. 1 team of nation. [...] The designation of the Aggies as the country's foremost team did not automatically follow winning the NCAA crown, for last year the Helms foundation picked Army, which does not enter post-season playoffs. The Aggies are the first Oklahoma outfit to be named No. 1 by Helms.
  24. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "Player, Team of Year! Kurland, Aggies No. 1 for 1946". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. April 8, 1946. Retrieved December 27, 2023. ...and the Aggies have been ranked the No. 1 team in the nation, although that is just a formality.
  25. ^ Shropshire, Larry (April 18, 1947). "1947 Helms Foundation Annual Basketball Report, Out Today". Lexington Herald-Leader. Retrieved December 27, 2023. with its nomination of Holy Cross as the No. 1 quintet in the nation the past season, is perhaps as good as any for an 'official' rating on college cage outfits. Here is the Helms final rating of the top 10, including three teams which participated in the invitation tourney and six in the NCAA
  26. ^ "Kentucky Is Rated National Champion". The Lexington Herald. April 6, 1948. Retrieved December 27, 2023. The foundation recognized Kentucky as national champion. This was the third time the Helms Foundation has recognized Kentucky as the best in the nation. The Wildcats were honored first in 1933 and again in 1946.
  27. ^ Ruby, Earl (April 5, 1949). "Kentucky Repeats With 'Double' In Helms Foundation Awards; All Hats Off to Rupp and 'Cats". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved December 27, 2023. the Helms Athletic Foundation announced that the Wildcats had been named the collegiate championship team of the year [...] The school will receive the team trophy [...] Kentucky was named 1949 National college champion.
  28. ^ Ashford, Ed (April 4, 1950). "Helms Rates Arizin Top Player, CCNY No. 1 Quintet". The Lexington Herald. Retrieved December 27, 2023. Selection of CCNY as the nation's top team was not difficult after the Beavers made an unprecedented sweep of the NIT and NCAA tournaments.
  29. ^ Boeck, Larry (April 14, 1951). "Bill Spivey Is Named Player Of The Year". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved December 28, 2023. [The Helms Athletic Foundation] also selected the Kentucky Wildcats as the nation's No. 1 quintet. Kentucky previously had won the No. 1 spot in 1933, 1948, and 1949.
  30. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "Helms Foundation Confirms I.U. Title". The Indianapolis News. Indianapolis. April 7, 1953. Retrieved December 26, 2023. The Helms Athletic Foundation has confirmed the results of the NCAA tournament by declaring Indiana University's basketball team its national champion for the 1952–53 season. Although Indiana also won the NCAA title in 1940, the Helms Foundation that year handed its national championship to Southern California because of what it called a more impressive record for the entire season.
  31. ^ "Helms Bypasses La Salle — Kentucky Named Top Team". The Daily O'Collegian. April 1, 1954. Retrieved December 25, 2023. Although La Salle won the NCAA title, and Holy Cross the National Invitational crown, Helms Athletic foundation has elected to hand the national championship honors for the 1954 season to the University of Kentucky's undefeated in 25 games Wildcats.
  32. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "Helms Names Kentucky National Champion 6th Time". The Lexington Herald. Lexington, Kentucky. April 3, 1958. Retrieved December 26, 2023. In a release prepared for Thursday, a Helms spokesman said that with West Virginia (26–2), Cincinnati (24–3), Kansas State (22–5), San Francisco (24–2), and Temple (27–3) failing in tourney play, there wasn't much else to do but hand national collegiate basketball team honors to the University of Kentucky, which emerged victoriously in the NCAA event, downing Seattle 84–72 in the finals.
  33. ^ Whitlock, Chuck (April 3, 1966). "The Texas Western Miners are the 1966 college basketball champion". El Paso Times. Retrieved December 28, 2023. The Helms Athletic Foundation has announced the Miners as the national champion, confirming the NCAA title which the Miners won with their skills and talents and abilities at College Park, Md. last month.
  34. ^ "Natt Named To All-American". The Monroe News-Star. April 1, 1977. Retrieved December 28, 2023. UCLA's senior forward Marques Johnson was named Player of the Year on the team and Marquette was selected as college basketball's top team.
  35. ^ "RALPH SAMPSON, JAMES WORTHY TOP 1982 COLLEGE BASKETBALL ALL-AMERICA TEAM SELECTIONS" (Press release). First Interstate Bank Athletic Foundation. April 3, 1982. Archived from the original on April 30, 2020. Retrieved May 2, 2020. Worthy was the scoring leader for North Carolina's National Championship team
  36. ^ a b "National Champion Major Selections (1896 to Present)". 2020 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF). Indianapolis: The National Collegiate Athletic Association. July 2020. pp. 112–114. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  37. ^ a b National Football Champions. Los Angeles, California: Helms Athletic Foundation. August 1, 1942. This concise Football Record, presenting annual National Football Champions since 1883, and their records; [...] is the result of more than a year of industrious research.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g "Coast Elevens Held National Title Five Times Since 1883". The Sacramento Bee. August 11, 1942. Retrieved December 29, 2023. The Helms Athletic Foundation has prepared a publication which includes a list of the annual American football championships since 1883. The publication also carries Deke Houlgate's annual selections of the best eleven in the country since 1926.
  39. ^ a b c d "They Were Number One — College Football's National Championship Teams — * As Chosen By Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation" (Press release). Los Angeles: Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation. March 15, 1973. As the result of its 1973 appraisal, the Athletic Foundation took the privilege of granting co-championship recognition to Stanford with Alabama in 1926; Notre Dame with the U.S. Military in 1946; Michigan with Notre Dame in 1947; and Ohio State with UCLA in 1954.
  40. ^ "Badgers Rated Nation's No. 1". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. January 11, 1943. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  41. ^ "Helms Foundation Chooses Notre Dame". Independent. Long Beach, California. January 11, 1944. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  42. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "Name Army Gridmen National Champions". Republican and Herald. Pottsville, Pennsylvania. United Press. January 11, 1945. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  43. ^ "Helms Board Tabs Bagnell Year's Best". The Los Angeles Mirror. Los Angeles. December 11, 1950. Retrieved November 18, 2022. the Helms board selected Oklahoma as mythical national champion
  44. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "Group Names Huskies Best". Spokane Chronicle. Spokane. Associated Press. January 14, 1961. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  45. ^ "Helms Selects Alabama No. 1". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. January 6, 1962. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  46. ^ "USC Selected By Helms Group". Herald and News. Klamath Falls, Oregon. January 10, 1963. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  47. ^ "Ho Hum; 'Horns Receive Another No. 1 Rating". The Austin American. Austin, Texas. January 7, 1964. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  48. ^ "Hogs To Receive Helms Trophy". Northwest Arkansas Times. Fayetteville, Arkansas. February 3, 1965. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  49. ^ "State Still Grid Champion". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. January 9, 1966. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  50. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "Helms Foundation Votes Irish And State Co-Champs". Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. Associated Press. January 15, 1967. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  51. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "Helms Picks Trojans As No. 1 Grid Team". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento, California. Associated Press. January 16, 1968. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  52. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "'Horns Hang Helms Award On Crowded Trophy Tree". Austin American–Statesman. Austin, Texas. January 9, 1970. Retrieved November 2, 2022. Four members of the five-man Helms panel voted UT the nation's top team
  53. ^ "Huskers Claim Helms Trophy". Lincoln Journal Star. Lincoln, Nebraska. January 7, 1971. Retrieved November 1, 2022. The United Savings–Helms Athletic Foundation college football national championship trophy will be presented to Nebraska in the near future.
  54. ^ "Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation 1975". The Daily Oklahoman. Oklahoma City. January 9, 1976. Retrieved November 14, 2022. The Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation, formerly known as the Helms Athletic Foundation, has named Oklahoma and Ohio State national co-champions for the 1975 season.
  55. ^ "Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation 1978". Alabama Journal. Montgomery, Alabama. January 10, 1979. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  56. ^ "Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation 1979". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. January 9, 1980. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  57. ^ "Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation 1980". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento. January 7, 1981. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  58. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "Helms Foundation Starts Football Hall Of Fame". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. Associated Press. August 2, 1950. Retrieved February 9, 2023. The Helms Hall board, consisting of seven Los Angeles area sports editors, selected 25 of the "greatest professional footballers of all time" as the first to be honored.
  59. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "Hirsch Named to Hall of Fame". Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu, Hawaii. United Press. November 9, 1957. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  60. ^ Williams, Coy (August 21, 1959). "Elect George Marschall to Pro Hall of Fame". Los Angeles Mirror. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  61. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "8 Gridders Make Pro Hall of Fame". Honolulu Star–Bulletin. Honolulu, Hawaii. United Press International. January 10, 1961. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  62. ^ "Helms Honors 25 Pro Greats". Los Angeles Times. August 10, 1950. p. IV-3 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  63. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "Wojciechowicz, Nesser And Neale Are Named To Pro Hall Of Fame". The Modesto Bee. Modesto, California. United Press. October 7, 1952. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  64. ^ Helms Hall — Hall of Fame Award honoring Earle Neale (Award Plaque). Los Angeles: Helms Athletic Foundation. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  65. ^ "Shield, Helms World Trophy 1965". Australian Sports Museum Collection Online. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  66. ^ "All-Round Australians". The Age. December 19, 1999. p. Sport-12. Retrieved May 14, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Also captained South Australia in Australian Rules state matches six times, and his CV included rave reviews as a baseballer, golfer and player of tennis, billiards and lacrosse, winning the World Trophy (formerly the Helms Award).
  67. ^ a b "Greatest Goan sprinter: Seraphino Antao". The Goan EveryDay. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  68. ^ "Helms Athletic Foundation" (PDF). Bulletin du Comite International Olympique. No. 25. 1951. pp. 26–28.
  69. ^ "World of Sport". Adelaide Advertiser. 25 August 1950. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
  70. ^ de Lacy, H.A. (9 January 1952). "HELMS AWARD – Sedgman was clear winner". Sporting Globe. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  71. ^ Pollard, Jack (1973). Ampol's sporting records. Sydney: Jack Pollard Pty Ltd.
  72. ^ "Filipino Champions in Athletics, Golf, Chess, Tennis, Martial Arts, and Other Philippine Sports". Archived from the original on January 15, 2011. Retrieved October 4, 2008.
  73. ^ Fareed, Faisal (5 February 2023). "Remembering KD Singh Babu, Who Dribbled With Hockey Stick Like Poetry In Motion". Outlook Weekender. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  74. ^ Lobo, Carol (2 February 2022). "K D Singh: The 'Houdini of Hockey'". PeepulTree. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  75. ^ Network, Olive Suno Radio (20 June 2021). "india bids goodbye to legendary flying Sikh – Milkha Singh". Radio Olive. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
  76. ^ "Jean Claude Killy receives helms world trophy; The famous French ski champion received the award from the hands" (photo). Alamy. Retrieved 3 January 2024.

External links