Helms Athletic Foundation

Founded in 1936 by Bill Schroeder and Paul Helms, the Helms Athletic Foundation was based in Los Angeles, California. The name was a misnomer, as there actually was no foundation in place to sustain the operation. Instead the organization was subsidized completely by the operations of Helms Bakery, opened by Helms in Los Angeles.^[1] Schroeder selected the foundation's national champion teams and made All-America team selections in a number of college sports, including football and basketball.^[2]

The Helms Foundation began releasing Schroeder's national championship selections for college basketball in 1943, when in February 1943 it published his retroactive picks for the national champion for each year from the 1919–20 through 1941–42 seasons.^[1] Later in 1943, Schroeder picked a national basketball champion for the 1942–43 season, and he continued to select national basketball champions for the Helms Foundation annually through the 1981–82 season, its final year of selections.^[1] In 1957, the Helms Foundation also released Schroeder's retroactive picks for the college basketball champions for the 1900–1901 through 1918–19 seasons.^[1] The retroactive Helms titles from 1900–01 through 1941–42 were the well-researched opinions of one person about teams that played during an era when, due to factors outside their control (e.g., minimal schedules, lack of intersectional play, differing rule interpretations, minimal statistics), it is difficult to know or assess the relative strength of the teams.^[1]

In 1947, Schroeder retroactively selected national champions in college football dating from that year^[2]^[1] back to the 1883 season.^[1]^[3] The Helms Foundation also operated a hall of fame for both college basketball and college football. Besides collegiate athletics, the foundation operated halls of fame for professional football, Major League Baseball, the Pacific Coast League, basketball, fencing, golf, tennis, swimming, auto racing, track and field,^[4] and soaring.^[5]

After Paul Helms' death in 1957, his family continued supporting the foundation until 1969, when the bakeries went out of business.^[6] Schroeder found a new benefactor in United Savings & Loan,^[6] and the foundation's name became United Savings–Helms Athletic Foundation.^[7]^[8] United merged with Citizens Savings & Loan in 1973, when the foundation became the Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation.^[6] It was again renamed in 1982 when First Interstate Bank assumed sponsorship, and it became the First Interstate Bank Athletic Foundation.^[9]^[10] Paul Helms started Helms Bakery in Southern California, which was the official bread (Helms Olympic bread) of the 1932 Olympics. Helms Hall was located on 8760 Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. The Helms Olympics neon sign still can be seen on top of the building.

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 titles[]

Basketball[]

The champions from 1900–01 through 1918–19 were selected retroactively in 1957.^[1] Those from 1919–20 through 1941–42 were selected retroactively in 1943.^[1]

The National Invitation Tournament began play in 1938 and the NCAA Tournament in 1939; until at the least the mid-1950s, the NIT was widely considered the more prestigious of the two.^[11] When Schroeder made his first set of retroactive championship picks in February 1943, he chose the NIT winner as the national champion for 1938 and 1939; for 1940, he chose USC (which won neither tournament that year); and for 1941 and 1942 he chose the NCAA Tournament winners as the national champion. After he began making annual picks in 1943, he selected the NCAA Tournament winner in every year except 1944 (when he picked undefeated Army, which won neither tournament) and 1954 (when he picked undefeated Kentucky, which won neither tournament). Thus, through the final Helms selection in 1982, NCAA Tournament winners Oregon (1939), Indiana (1940), Utah (1944), and La Salle (1954) were the only NCAA champions that were not also Helms champions. Some schools claim a Helms selection as a national championship.^[a]

Year	Team	Record
1900–01	Yale	10–4
1901–02	Minnesota	15–0
1902–03	Yale	15–1
1903–04	Columbia	17–1
1904–05	Columbia	19–1
1905–06	Dartmouth	16–2
1906–07	Chicago	21–2
1907–08	Chicago	23–2
1908–09	Chicago	12–0
1909–10	Columbia	11–1
1910–11	St. John's	14–0
1911–12	Wisconsin	15–0
1912–13	Navy	9–0
1913–14	Wisconsin	15–0
1914–15	Illinois	16–0
1915–16	Wisconsin	20–1
1916–17	Washington State	25–1
1917–18	Syracuse	16–1
1918–19	Minnesota	13–0
1919–20	Penn	21–1
1920–21	Penn	21–2
1921–22	Kansas	16–2
1922–23	Kansas	17–1
1923–24	North Carolina	26–0
1924–25	Princeton	21–2
1925–26	Syracuse	19–1
1926–27	Notre Dame	19–1
1927–28	Pittsburgh	21–0
1928–29	Montana State	36–2
1929–30	Pittsburgh	23–2
1930–31	Northwestern	16–1
1931–32	Purdue	17–1
1932–33	Kentucky	21–3
1933–34	Wyoming	26–4
1934–35	NYU	19–1
1935–36	Notre Dame	22–2–1
1936–37	Stanford	25–2
1937–38	Temple	23–2
1938–39	Long Island	23–0
1939–40	USC	20–3
1940–41	Wisconsin	20–3
1941–42	Stanford	27–4
1942–43	Wyoming	31–2
1943–44	Army	15–0
1944–45	Oklahoma A&M	27–4
1945–46	Oklahoma A&M	31–2
1946–47	Holy Cross	27–3
1947–48	Kentucky	36–3
1948–49	Kentucky	32–2
1949–50	CCNY	24–5
1950–51	Kentucky	32–2
1951–52	Kansas	28–3
1952–53	Indiana	23–3
1953–54	Kentucky	25–0
1954–55	San Francisco	28–1
1955–56	San Francisco	29–0
1956–57	North Carolina	32–0
1957–58	Kentucky	23–6
1958–59	California	25–4
1959–60	Ohio State	25–3
1960–61	Cincinnati	27–3
1961–62	Cincinnati	29–2
1962–63	Loyola (IL)	29–2
1963–64	UCLA	30–0
1964–65	UCLA	28–2
1965–66	Texas Western	28–1
1966–67	UCLA	30–0
1967–68	UCLA	29–1
1968–69	UCLA	29–1
1969–70	UCLA	28–2
1970–71	UCLA	29–1
1971–72	UCLA	30–0
1972–73	UCLA	30–0
1973–74	NC State	30–1
1974–75	UCLA	28–3
1975–76	Indiana	32–0
1976–77	Marquette	25–7
1977–78	Kentucky	30–2
1978–79	Michigan State	26–6
1979–80	Louisville	33–3
1980–81	Indiana	26–9
1981–82	North Carolina	32–2
Source

Football[]

The champions for 1883 through 1946 were selected retroactively in 1947.^[1]

Year	Team	Record
1883	Yale	8–0
1884	Yale	8–0–1
1885	Princeton	9–0
1886	Yale	9–0–1
1887	Yale	9–0
1888	Yale	13–0
1889	Princeton	10–0
1890	Harvard	11–0
1891	Yale	13–0
1892	Yale	13–0
1893	Princeton	11–0
1894	Yale	16–0
1895	Penn	14–0
1896	Princeton	10–0–1
1897	Penn	15–0
1898	Harvard	11–0
1899	Harvard	10–0–1
1900	Yale	12–0
1901	Michigan	11–0
1902	Michigan	11–0
1903	Princeton	11–0
1904	Penn	12–0
1905	Chicago	11–0
1906	Princeton	9–0–1
1907	Yale	9–0–1
1908	Penn	11–0–1
1909	Yale	10–0
1910	Harvard	8–0–1
1911	Princeton	8–0–2
1912	Harvard	9–0
1913	Harvard	9–0
1914	Army	9–0
1915	Cornell	9–0
1916	Pittsburgh	8–0
1917	Georgia Tech	9–0
1918	Pittsburgh	4–1
1919	Harvard	9–0–1
1920	California	9–0
1921	Cornell	8–0
1922	Cornell	8–0
1923	Illinois	8–0
1924	Notre Dame	10–0
1925	Alabama	10–0
1926	Alabama Stanford	9–0–1 10–0–1
1927	Illinois	7–0–1
1928	Georgia Tech	10–0
1929	Notre Dame	9–0
1930	Notre Dame	10–0
1931	USC	10–1
1932	USC	10–0
1933	Michigan	7–0–1
1934	Minnesota	8–0
1935	Minnesota	8–0
1936	Minnesota	7–1
1937	California	10–0–1
1938	TCU	11–0
1939	Texas A&M	11–0
1940	Stanford	10–0
1941	Minnesota	8–0
1942	Wisconsin	8–1–1
1943	Notre Dame	9–1
1944	Army	9–0
1945	Army	9–0
1946	Army Notre Dame	9–0–1 8–0–1
1947	Notre Dame Michigan	9–0 10–0
1948	Michigan	9–0
1949	Notre Dame	10–0
1950	Oklahoma	10–1
1951	Michigan State	9–0
1952	Michigan State	9–0
1953	Notre Dame	9–0–1
1954	UCLA Ohio State	9–0 10–0
1955	Oklahoma	11–0
1956	Oklahoma	10–0
1957	Auburn	10–0
1958	LSU	11–0
1959	Syracuse	11–0
1960	Washington	10–1
1961	Alabama	11–0
1962	USC	11–0
1963	Texas	11–0
1964	Arkansas	11–0
1965	Michigan State	10–1
1966	Notre Dame Michigan State	9–0–1 9–0–1
1967	USC	10–1
1968	Ohio State	10–0
1969	Texas	11–0
1970	Nebraska	11–0–1
1971	Nebraska	13–0
1972	USC	12–0
1973	Notre Dame	11–0
1974	Oklahoma USC	11–0 10–1–1
1975	Ohio State Oklahoma	11–1 11–1
1976	Pittsburgh	12–0
1977	Notre Dame	11–1
1978	Alabama Oklahoma USC	11–1 11–1 12–1
1979	Alabama	12–0
1980	Georgia	12–0
1981	Clemson	12–0
1982	Penn State SMU	11–1 11–0–1
Source

^ "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."^[1]

World Trophy[]

The World Trophy, originally known as the Helms Award,^[12] 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.^[13] Even though the Foundation 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

References[]

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Scott, Jon (Nov 9, 2010). "The truth behind the Helms Committee". Retrieved 14 December 2015.
^ ^a ^b Jenkins, Dan (September 11, 1967), "This Year The Fight Will Be in the Open", Sports Illustrated, Chicago, IL: Time Inc., 27 (11): 30–33, retrieved March 16, 2016
^ "Helms Athletic Foundation Collegiate Basketball Record (preface)". Helms Athletic Foundation. Feb 1, 1943. Retrieved 2015-12-14.
^ "Twenty-One Greats to be Enshrined in PCL Hall of Fame". Pacific Coast League. Retrieved 2007-01-17.
^ Cumming, M. (1966). The Powerless Ones: Gliding in Peace and War. Frederick Muller Ltd., London
^ ^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.
^ Hall, John (August 31, 1976). "So Help Me". Los Angeles Times. Part III, p. 2. Retrieved December 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "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.
^ "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.
^ "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.
^ Anonymous, "How the NCAA Overtook Its Rival, the NIT," Sport History Weekly, March 24, 2019 Accessed May 4, 2021
^ "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).
^ "Helms Athletic Foundation" (PDF). Bulletin du Comite International Olympique. No. 25. 1951. pp. 26–28.

[12] "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."^[1]

[jps-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Scott, Jon (Nov 9, 2010). "The truth behind the Helms Committee". Retrieved 14 December 2015.

[Jenkins-2] Jenkins, Dan (September 11, 1967), "This Year The Fight Will Be in the Open", Sports Illustrated, Chicago, IL: Time Inc., 27 (11): 30–33, retrieved March 16, 2016

[3] "Helms Athletic Foundation Collegiate Basketball Record (preface)". Helms Athletic Foundation. Feb 1, 1943. Retrieved 2015-12-14.

[4] "Twenty-One Greats to be Enshrined in PCL Hall of Fame". Pacific Coast League. Retrieved 2007-01-17.

[5] Cumming, M. (1966). The Powerless Ones: Gliding in Peace and War. Frederick Muller Ltd., London

[drooz_01151981-6] 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.

[7] Hall, John (August 31, 1976). "So Help Me". Los Angeles Times. Part III, p. 2. Retrieved December 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.

[8] "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.

[9] "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.

[10] "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.

[sportshistoryweekly-11] Anonymous, "How the NCAA Overtook Its Rival, the NIT," Sport History Weekly, March 24, 2019 Accessed May 4, 2021

[13] "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).

[olympic-14] "Helms Athletic Foundation" (PDF). Bulletin du Comite International Olympique. No. 25. 1951. pp. 26–28.

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