May 12, 2000
As IHSA celebrates its Centennial this year, its history shows certain families have made huge contributions to one sport or another.
Track and field has many, including the Helbergs. This year the family patriarch, Ron Helberg, becomes the 40th official to be named Honorary Referee of the Boys State Final Meet. He is attending his 44th state final meet, the first three times as an athlete in the event and the last 41 straight as a volunteer official.
Helberg was a member of the 1955 Blue Island High School state championship team, where he ran on the first place 880 relay. During a 14-year coaching career at Palatine (H.S.), Park Ridge (Maine East) and Evanston (Twp.), his teams posted a dual meet record of 166-27. Four times at Evanston his Wildkits were state team champions and he coached 16 event champions, nine state record holders and a trio of national record holders.
In 1994, Helberg retired after spending 35 years in Illinois education. His last 15 years were as athletic director at Hoffman Estates (H.S.) [9 years] and Glenview (Glenbrook South) [6 years].
Helberg served as a track and field referee/starter for 25 years. He has worked the state final meet 36 times, including 14 times as the meet's starter. He was a member of the IHSA Track and Field Advisory Committee for eight years, and a rules interpreter for five years.
Ron and his wife, Marilyn [a retired elementary school principal] now live in Huntley. They are parents of three children, daughter Beth Sheasby, and sons Don and Ken. Don is head track and field coach at Wheaton (North). Ken is head track and field coach at Wheaton (W-Warrenville South) and like his father, coached state championship teams in 1996 and 1999.
Ron will be working the meet this year as a
member of the Jury of Appeals. If ever there has
been someone in IHSA track and field to have been
there and done that, it is the new millennium's
first Honorary Referee.