1998 Hall of Fame Inductee

TOM HELZER - Anderson, CA
Football - 1956, 1957, 1958

Tom came to Chico in 1951 from Richmond, CA and attended Notre Dame Elementary School before entering and graduating from Chico High in 1956. He was active in the Key Club, Block C and was selected as Athlete of the Year in 1956 for his football and basketball skills at Chico High.

He was selected to attend the Air Force Academy, but decided the Military Academy was not for him and returned to Chico. He attended Chico State to play football for Gus Manolis and George Maderos.

He played center and linebacker for three years and was selected to the Far Western Conference Teams his sophomore and junior years. Unfortunately, he was not able to play his senior year due to a knee injury.

Since graduation in 1961, Tom and his wife, Irene (Fort), whom he met when they both worked in the Bookstore for Mac Martin, have lived in Anderson. Tom served Anderson High School District for 35 years (teacher 15 years, administrator 15 years, and counselor five years). Tom also served as advisor to the Anderson High Key Club, which was the largest Key Club in the Cal-Nev-Ha District. Tom is presently a member of the Anderson Rotary Club.

Tom retired in 1996 to pursue his interests in photography, woodworking and maintaining his modest home vineyard. He and Irene are proud of their daughter Jennifer who received her Master's at Chico State and her Doctorate at theUniversity of Texas.