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|[[1942 college football season|1942]]<ref name="Helms1942">{{cite news |date=January 11, 1943 |title=Badgers Rated Nation's No. 1 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113302523/badgers-rated-nations-no-1-1942-helms/ |work=Wisconsin State Journal |publication-place=Madison, Wisconsin |access-date=November 18, 2022}}</ref> || [[1942 Wisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin]]|| 8–1–1
|[[1942 college football season|1942]]<ref name="Helms1942">{{cite news |date=January 11, 1943 |title=Badgers Rated Nation's No. 1 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113302523/badgers-rated-nations-no-1-1942-helms/ |work=Wisconsin State Journal |publication-place=Madison, Wisconsin |access-date=November 18, 2022}}</ref> || [[1942 Wisconsin Badgers football team|Wisconsin]]|| 8–1–1
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|[[1943 college football season|1943]] || [[1943 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]] || 9–1
|[[1943 college football season|1943]]<ref name="Helms1943">{{cite news |date=January 11, 1944 |title=Helms Foundation Chooses Notre Dame |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/independent-helms-athletic-foundation-ch/137245013/ |work=[[Press-Telegram|Independent]] |place= |publication-place=Long Beach, California |access-date=December 22, 2023 |quote=}}</ref> || [[1943 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team|Notre Dame]] || 9–1
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|[[1944 college football season|1944]]<ref name="Helms1944">{{cite news |date=January 11, 1945 |agency=United Press |title=Name Army Gridmen National Champions |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113300705/helms-national-champions-1944-army/ |work=Republican and Herald |place=Los Angeles |publication-place=Pottsville, Pennsylvania |access-date=November 18, 2022}}</ref> || [[1944 Army Cadets football team|Army]] || 9–0
|[[1944 college football season|1944]]<ref name="Helms1944">{{cite news |date=January 11, 1945 |agency=United Press |title=Name Army Gridmen National Champions |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113300705/helms-national-champions-1944-army/ |work=Republican and Herald |place=Los Angeles |publication-place=Pottsville, Pennsylvania |access-date=November 18, 2022}}</ref> || [[1944 Army Cadets football team|Army]] || 9–0

Revision as of 21:11, 22 December 2023

Helms Athletic Foundation
AbbreviationHAF
SuccessorLA84 Foundation
Formation1936
Founders
PurposeAthletics, Sportsmanship
HeadquartersLos Angeles

The Helms Athletic Foundation, founded in 1936, was a Los Angeles-based organization dedicated to the promotion of athletics and sportsmanship.[1] Paul H. Helms was the organization's founder and benefactor,[2] funding the foundation via his ownership of Helms Bakery.[3] Bill Schroeder founded the organization with Helms and served as its managing director.[4][5] The men were united in a love of amateur athletic competition.[6]

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. 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.[5] He sought a corporate sponsor to finance a hall of fame to house his collection and to present awards to local athletes.[5][6]

The idea was taken seriously by Paul Helms, who was himself invested in athletics both personally and professionally.[6][1] The bakery with which he made his fortune was a sponsor of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics,[1] 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.[6] 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.[7]

Helms Hall

The organization dedicated Helms Hall in 1948.[7] 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.[6]

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,[9] and soaring.[10]

Later years

After Paul Helms' death in 1957, his family continued supporting the organization until 1969, when the bakeries went out of business.[11][4] Schroeder found a new benefactor in United Savings & Loan,[11] and the organization's name became United Savings–Helms Athletic Foundation.[12][13] United merged with Citizens Savings & Loan in 1973, when the organization became the Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation.[11] It was again renamed in 1982 when First Interstate Bank assumed sponsorship, and it became the First Interstate Bank Athletic Foundation.[14][15]

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."[18] — 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.[39][40][41][42] 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 did received a "special award" for his "contribution to professional football in Los Angeles" during the 1950 inaugural class ceremony.[43]

Year Inductee Pro Team(s) Contribution Pro Football Hall of Fame?
1950 Cliff Battles Boston Braves / Boston Redskins / Washington Redskins (1932–1937) Player Yes
1950 Sammy Baugh Washington Redskins (1937–1952) Player Yes
1950 Joe F. Carr NFL Commissioner (1921–1939) Contributor Yes
1950 Dutch Clark Portsmouth Spartans / Detroit Lions (1931–1932; 1934–1938) Player Yes
1950 Paddy Driscoll Hammond All-Stars (1917)
Hammond Pros (1919)
Racine / Chicago Cardinals (1920–1925)
Chicago Bears (1926–1929)
Player Yes
1950 Turk Edwards Boston Braves / Redskins / Washington Redskins (1932–1940) Player Yes
1950 Ray Flaherty Los Angeles Wildcats (1926)
New York Yankees (1927–1928)
New York Giants (1929, 1931–1935)
Player Yes
1950 Dan Fortmann Chicago Bears (1936–1943) Player Yes
1950 Red Grange Chicago Bears (1925, 1929–1934)
New York Yankees (1926–1927)
Player Yes
1950 George Halas Boston Braves / Redskins / Washington Redskins (1932–1940) Player
Coach
Yes
1950 Mel Hein New York Giants (1931–1945) Player Yes
1950 Bill Hewitt Chicago Bears (1932−1936)
Philadelphia Eagles (1937−1939)
Steagles (1943)
Player Yes
1950 Clarke Hinkle Green Bay Packers (1932–1941) Player Yes
1950 Cal Hubbard New York Giants (1927–1928, 1936)
Green Bay Packers (1929–1933, 1935)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1936)
Player Yes
1950 Don Hutson Green Bay Packers (1935–1945) Player Yes
1950 Curly Lambeau Green Bay Packers (1920–1949) Coach Yes
1950 Tuffy Leemans New York Giants (1936–1943) Player Yes
1950 Sid Luckman Chicago Bears (1939–1950) Player Yes
1950 Bronko Nagurski Chicago Bears (1930–1937, 1943) Player Yes
1950 Ernie Nevers Duluth Eskimos (1926–1927)
Chicago Cardinals (1929–1931)
Player Yes
1950 Steve Owen New York Giants (1931–1949) Coach Yes
1950 Ken Strong Staten Island Stapletons (1929–1932)
New York Giants (1933–1935, 1939, 1944–1947)
New York Yankees (1936–1937)
Jersey City Giants (1938, 1940)
Player Yes
1950 Joe Stydahar Chicago Bears (1936–1942; 1945–1946) Player Yes
1950 Jim Thorpe Canton Bulldogs (1915–1917, 1919–1920,1926)
Cleveland Indians (1921)
Oorang Indians (1922–1923)
Rock Island Independents (1924)
New York Giants (1925)
Rock Island Independents (1925)
Tampa Cardinals (1926)
Chicago Cardinals (1928)
Player Yes
1950 George Trafton Decatur Staleys / Chicago Staleys / Chicago Bears (1920–1921, 1923–1932) Player Yes
1951 John McNally Milwaukee Badgers (1925–1926)
Duluth Eskimos (1926–1927)
Pottsville Maroons (1928)
Green Bay Packers (1929–1933, 1935–1936)
Pittsburgh Pirates (1934, 1937–1938)
Buffalo Tigers (1941)
Player Yes
1951 Arnie Herber Green Bay Packers (1930–1940)
New York Giants (1944–1945)
Player Yes
1951 Bulldog Turner Chicago Bears (1940–1951) Player Yes
1951 Pete Henry Canton Bulldogs (1920–1923, 1925–1926)
New York Giants (1927)
Pottsville Maroons (1927–1928)
Player Yes
1952[44] Greasy Neale[45] Philadelphia Eagles (1941–1950) Coach Yes
1952 Al Nesser Columbus Panhandles (1910–1919, 1921)
Canton Professionals (1914)
Akron Pros (1920–1925)
Cleveland Bulldogs (1925)
Akron Indians (1926)
Cleveland Panthers (1926)
New York Giants (1926–1928)
Cleveland Indians (1931)
Player No
1952 Alex Wojciechowicz Detroit Lions (1938–1946)
Philadelphia Eagles (1946–1950)
Player Yes
1952 Frankie Albert Los Angeles Bulldogs (1945)
San Francisco 49ers (1946–1952)
Player No
1952 Bob Waterfield Cleveland / Los Angeles Rams (1945–1952) Player Yes
1952 Sammy Baugh Washington Redskins (1937–1952) Player Yes
1957 Tony Canadeo Green Bay Packers (1941–1944; 1946–1952) Player Yes
1957 Lou Groza Cleveland Browns (1946–1959, 1961–1967) Player Yes
1957 Elroy Hirsch Chicago Rockets (1946–1948)
Los Angeles Rams (1949–1957)
Player Yes
1957 Ed Sprinkle Chicago Bears (1944–1955) Player Yes
1957 Doak Walker Detroit Lions (1950–1955) Player Yes
1959 Charlie Conerly New York Giants (1948–1961) Player No
1959 George Musso Chicago Bears (1933–1944) Player Yes
1959 Ray Bray Chicago Bears (1939–1942, 1946–1951)
Green Bay Packers (1952)
Player No
1959 George Preston Marshall Washington Redskins owner (1932-1959) Contributor Yes
1960 Jim Benton Cleveland / Los Angeles Rams (1938–1940, 1942; 1944–1947)
Chicago Bears (1943)
Player No
1960 Bill Dudley Pittsburgh Steelers (1942, 1945–1946)
Detroit Lions (1947–1949)
Washington Redskins (1950–1951, 1953)
Player Yes
1960 Link Lyman Canton / Cleveland Bulldogs (1922–1925)
Frankford Yellow Jackets (1925)
Chicago Bears (1926–1928, 1930–1931, 1933–1934)
Player Yes
1960 George McAfee Chicago Bears (1940–1941, 1945–1950) Player Yes
1960 Emlen Tunnell New York Giants (1948–1958)
Green Bay Packers (1959–1961)
Player Yes
1960 Y. A. Tittle Baltimore Colts (1948–1950)
San Francisco 49ers (1951–1960)
New York Giants (1961–1964)
Player Yes
1960 Chuck Bednarik Philadelphia Eagles (1949–1962) Player Yes
1960 Norm Van Brocklin Los Angeles Rams (1949–1957)
Philadelphia Eagles (1958–1960)
Player Yes
1960 Buck Shaw San Francisco 49ers (1946–1954)
Philadelphia Eagles (1958–1960)
Coach No
???? Otto Graham Cleveland Browns (1946–1955) Player Yes

World Trophy

The World Trophy, originally known as the Helms Award,[46] was an annual sporting award established by the Helms Athletic Foundation in 1939 to honor the foremost amateur athlete of each continent of the world, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.[47] Even though the organization was established in 1936, the awards date back to 1896, the year of the first Summer Olympics.

Winners:

  • World Trophy for Australasia
  • World Trophy for Africa
  • World Trophy for Asia
  • World Trophy for Europe
  • World Trophy for North America
  • World Trophy for South America

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Famed sportsman, Paul Helms, dies". The Birmingham News. Birmingham, Alabama. Associated Press. January 6, 1957. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Helms Athletic Foundation — Collegiate Basketball Record — Part II" (Press release). Los Angeles: Helms Athletic Foundation. February 1943. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  3. ^ Thus, the name was a misnomer, as there actually was no foundation in place to sustain the operation.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ a b McConnell, Jim (August 19, 2008). "Helms bread rose from Olympic ties". Long Beach Press Telegram. Long Beach, California. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  8. ^ 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. ^ "Twenty-One Greats to be Enshrined in PCL Hall of Fame". Pacific Coast League. Retrieved 2007-01-17.
  10. ^ Cumming, M. (1966). The Powerless Ones: Gliding in Peace and War. Frederick Muller Ltd., London
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Hall, John (August 31, 1976). "So Help Me". Los Angeles Times. Part III, p. 2. Retrieved December 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ a b c d "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.
  17. ^ a b "Wildcats of 1933". Lexington Herald–Leader. Lexington, Kentucky. February 25, 1943. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  18. ^ a b c Scott, Jon (Nov 9, 2010). "The truth behind the Helms Committee". Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  19. ^ Anonymous, "How the NCAA Overtook Its Rival, the NIT," Sport History Weekly, March 24, 2019 Accessed May 4, 2021
  20. ^ a b c "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.
  21. ^ "Badgers Rated Nation's No. 1". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. January 11, 1943. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  22. ^ "Helms Foundation Chooses Notre Dame". Independent. Long Beach, California. January 11, 1944. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  23. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "Name Army Gridmen National Champions". Republican and Herald. Pottsville, Pennsylvania. United Press. January 11, 1945. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  24. ^ "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
  25. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "Group Names Huskies Best". Spokane Chronicle. Spokane. Associated Press. January 14, 1961. Retrieved November 22, 2022.
  26. ^ "Helms Selects Alabama No. 1". The Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. January 6, 1962. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  27. ^ "USC Selected By Helms Group". Herald and News. Klamath Falls, Oregon. January 10, 1963. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  28. ^ "Ho Hum; 'Horns Receive Another No. 1 Rating". The Austin American. Austin, Texas. January 7, 1964. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  29. ^ "Hogs To Receive Helms Trophy". Northwest Arkansas Times. Fayetteville, Arkansas. February 3, 1965. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  30. ^ "State Still Grid Champion". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. January 9, 1966. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ 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
  34. ^ "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.
  35. ^ "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.
  36. ^ "Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation 1978". Alabama Journal. Montgomery, Alabama. January 10, 1979. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  37. ^ "Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation 1979". The Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. January 9, 1980. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  38. ^ "Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation 1980". The Sacramento Bee. Sacramento. January 7, 1981. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  39. ^ 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.
  40. ^ Written at Los Angeles. "Hirsch Named to Hall of Fame". Honolulu Advertiser. Honolulu, Hawaii. United Press. November 9, 1957. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  41. ^ Williams, Coy (August 21, 1959). "Elect George Marschall to Pro Hall of Fame". Los Angeles Mirror. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  42. ^ 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.
  43. ^ "Helms Honors 25 Pro Greats". Los Angeles Times. August 10, 1950. p. IV-3 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  44. ^ 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.
  45. ^ 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.
  46. ^ "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).
  47. ^ "Helms Athletic Foundation" (PDF). Bulletin du Comite International Olympique. No. 25. 1951. pp. 26–28.