Jack C. "Cactus Jack" Helmsing


Year Inducted: 1989
Nominated By: John Klomp
Sports Competed In: N/A
Athlete, Coach or Contributor: Coach

Willie Wright

High School:
Attended Kennard H.S., in Neb., then moved his senior year to College View H.S. in Lincoln, Neb.

Achievements:
High School:
● Played on the football team that went undefeated until last game.
● Played basketball and participated in State Tournament.

College:
Went to the University of Nebraska, graduating in 1951.

Related Activities:
Baseball pitcher for the United States Marine Corps (1948).

Coaching Career:
● Spent six season (1951-57) as the head coach for the football, basketball and baseball teams at Ovid, Colo H.S.
● Led the 1956 football squad to the state championship and also led the basketball and baseball teams to state runner-up finishes in the same year.
● Hired by Pueblo County H.S. as a football and baseball assistant coach in 1957.
● Took over the Hornets basketball program in 1957 and was the head coach for the next 13 years, until 1970.
● Led the basketball team to the 2A State Championship in 1960 and competed in two 3A State Tournaments (1963, 1967).
● Coached the 1970 All-State game.

Afilliations:
Became the Activities Director for Pueblo County H.S. in 1970 after he left the coaching ranks.

Achievements:
Had 12 letters of recommendation for entrance into the Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) Hall of Fame.

Quotes:
"It was not just the talented individuals with whom Jack excelled, he was able to get the very best out of every individual. He adopted a slogan 'One for all and all for one.' He taught his teams that life is full of many small defeats, but they must rise above them and eventually they would win in life”.
-- John Klomp

“I like John Klomp’s summation best. ‘If you could have only one friend in the whole world, that friend should be Jack Helmsing”
-- Dave Socier’s article in the Pueblo Chieftain dated Friday June 6, 1986.

Occupation:
Teacher, coach and Activities Director for School District #70

Personal:
Lived in Pueblo with his wife, Detta... Passed away on June 29, 1990.


GPSA "H" By The Numbers

LEGEND: p = awarded posthumously; ^= attended first meeting; * = deceased;+ = charter member (placed after year inducted)

1
Administrator
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)

Athlete/Administrator
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)

Athlete/Coach/Contributor
Richard 'Dick" Hime (2022 *p)
Joseph Edward Hughes (1977*)

Athlete/Contributor
Paula Henson (2017)

Attended St. Patrick's H.S.
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)

Attended Pueblo East H.S.
Steve Henson (2002)

Auto Racing
William B. 'Bill" Hodges, Jr. (2000*)

Boxing
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)

Cross Country
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999*)

Statistician
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)

Swimming
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)

Track
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)

Wrestling
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)

 

2
Athlete/Official
Anthony J. "Tony" Hegler (2013)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)

Softball
Paula Henson (2017)
Ruth Hulsey (1983*)

 

3
Attended H.S. Outside Colorado
Jack C. Hildner (2012*p)
John Muir H.S., Pasadena, CA
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999)
Central Catholic H.S., Pittsburgh, PA
Jack "Cactus Jack" Helmsing (1989*)
College View H.S., Lincoln, NE

Attended Pueblo Catholic H.S.
Judith Kathryn "Judy" Hildner (1997*)
Gene Hochevar (1990)
Henry Robert "Bob" Haley (1978)

Coach
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Jack "Cactus Jack" Helmsing (1989*)
Henry Robert "Bob" Haley (1978)

Editor/Sportswriter/Owner
Jack C. Hildner (2012*p)
Judith Kathryn "Judy" Hildner (1997*)
Frank Steven Hoag, Jr. (1975*)

Official
Paula Henson (2017)
James "Newell" Hall (1984*)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)

Tennis
Paula Henson (2017)
Steve Henson (2002)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)

Track
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Freda Ann Hancock (1998)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)

 

5
Contributor
Paula Henson (2017)
William Joseph "Bill" Hybl (2010)
Judith Kathryn "Judy" Hildner (1997*)
Frank Steven Hoag, Jr. (1975*)
O'Neal Hobbs (1974*)

Athlete
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Roger Alan Hargraves (2006*p)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)

Attended Pueblo South H.S.
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Mark C. Haering (2008)
Jim J. Harrison (2006)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)
Brian Hochevar (1993)

 

6
Baseball
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Roger Alan Hargraves (2006*p)
Jim J. Harrison (2006)
Brian Hochevar (1993)
O'Neal Hobbs (1974*)0)

 

7
Attended Pueblo Central H.S.
Anthony J. "Tony" Hegler (2013)
Roger Alan Hargraves (2006*p)
William B. "Bill" Hodges, Jr. (2000)
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)
Joseph Edward Hughes (1977*)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)

Honorees Awarded Posthumously
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Jack C. Hildner (2012*p)
Roger A. Hargraves (2006*p)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)

Basketball
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Anthony J. "Tony" Hegler (2013)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Jim J. Harrison (2006)
Brian Hochevar (1993)
Gene Hochevar (1990)


8
Attended Pueblo Centennial H.S.
Richard "Dick" Hime (2022*p)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
William Joseph "Bill" Hybl (2010)
Freda Ann Hancock (1998)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)
James "Newell" Hall (1984*)
Mike William Housh (1983)
Ruth Louise Hulsey (1983*)

11
Athlete/Coach
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Mark C. Haering (2008)
Jim J. Harrison (2006)
Steve Henson (2002)
William B. "Bill" Hodges, Jr. (2000)
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999*)
Freda Ann Hancock (1998)
Brian Hochevar (1993)
Gene Hochevar (1990)
Mike William Housh (1983)
Ruth Louise Hulsey (1983*)

Football
Anthony J. "Tony" Hegler (2013)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Christopher C. Haering (2008)
Mark C. Haering (2008)
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999*)
Brian Hochevar (1993)
Gene Hochevar (1990)
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)
Mike William Housh (1983)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)

 

18
Honorees Deceased
Jack C. Hildner (2012*p)
Walter Leo Hill (2012*)
Roger A. Hargraves (2006*p)
William B. 'Bill" Hodges, Jr. (2000*)
Charles Louis "Chuck" Haering (1999*)
Judith Kathryn "Judy" Hildner (1997*)
Joel Walter "Bear" Herzog (1996*p)
Charles G. "Charlie" Hoffman (1994*p)
Joseph "Salvy" Hernandez (1992*p)
Jack "Cactus Jack" Helmsing (1989*)
J. Newell Hall (1984*)
Charles G. Hitchcock (1983*)
Ruth Hulsey (1983*)
William S. "Bill" Heath (1982*)
Joseph Edward Hughes (1977*)
Dennis Hagaman (1975*p)
Frank S. Hoag, Jr. (1975*)
O'Neal Hobbs (1974*)

 

32
Honorees in "H" Section

 

REMEMBERING OUR FALLEN GPSA INDUCTEES

The Greater Pueblo Sports Association (GPSA) has announced a list of honorees that have passed since the 2023 induction ceremony on Nov. 15.

 

 

Daniel RosalesDaniel
Rosales

12/13/2023
Class of 2002

Everett C. ThalhamerEverett C.
Thalhamer

12/23/2023
Class of 2014

Bob GrahamBobby Max
Graham

02/26/2024
Class of 1990

Joe BonaquistaJoe
Bonaquista

07/16/2024
Class of 1977