Helms

Walter Theodore Helms was born in San Lorenzo in 1877, son of William Dedrich Helms [1838-1899], a native of Germany and Mary Cooke Helms [1849-1932] a native of New York.

A graduate of the University of California in 1899, Mr. Helms completed his practice teaching in Berkeley schools.

By July 1901, after doing graduate work, Helms had been placed in charge of the schools in the San Pablo District as the district’s Supervising Principal, which at that time included a school at Point Richmond with one teacher, three teachers at San Pablo, and two at Stege, making six teachers in all.

For the balance of the year Helms remained with the San Pablo school as principal. He married Azro Rumrill’s daughter, Mary in 1907. Although they had no children, Mary had a daughter from a previous marriage.

In 1946 Helms became president of the California Teachers Association. He continued as District Superintendent until 1949, retiring with the honorary title of Superintendent Emeritus.

As a member of the Contra Costa Board of Education, he gained recognition as one of the foremost leaders of school development. He passed away in 1972 at age 95.