Del Helzer, a graduate of Portland's Grant High School, officiated high school and college wrestling for 22 years. He was voted Outstanding Official by the Portland Officials Association for 10 consecutive years, 1974 through 1983. During that time he also officiated at the OSAA state high school wrestling tournament for 17 years, including 12 as the tournament's head referee. He also officiated the 1968 PAC-8 wrestling tournament. In addition, Del was an outstanding high school and college (Linfield) baseball player and a two-time senior national champion softball player.