John Helton
Inducted: 2016
John Helton
(Photograph by Scott Grant)
Member of Canadian Football Hall of Fame (Inducted 1985)
Defensive line: 1979-82 with the Bombers; 1969-78 with Calgary
CFL All-Star: (Wpg): 1979, 1982; (Cal): 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978
Divisional All-Star: (Wpg): 1979, 1981, 1982; (Cal): 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978
Awards: CFL Most Outstanding Lineman Award (1972); CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award (1974); Tom Pate Memorial Award (1979)
Helton was traded to the Bombers just prior to the 1979 season after being low-balled on a contract offer from the Stampeders, the club with which he had already carved out a Hall-of-Fame career.
He was 32 when he arrived in Winnipeg, but gave the Bombers valuable leadership on and off the field while still dominating the line of scrimmage. A nine-time CFL All-Star (twice with Winnipeg), he was also a 12-time West Division All-Star.
