Two years ago when Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack's staff began looking at securitizing the state's future tobacco settlement payments, it was bond lawyer Robert Helmick, one of the architects of the deal, that was dispatched to talk to lawmakers about the plan that needed their vote.
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"He had such credibility with legislators of both parties," said Randy Bauer, the state's budget director. "His credibility was such that when Bob Helmick said it was viable, lawmakers were willing to consider it. He's the kind of person who everyone listened to and respected. He could be the guiding light to get something accomplished."
Mr. Helmick, a former U.S. Olympic Committee president, a benefactor of many local institutions including Drake University and the Des Moines Art Museum, and the "dean" of public finance in Iowa according to many, died last week after suffering a stroke. He was 66.
Mr. Helmick was valedictorian of his law school class at Drake, where he graduated in 1960. Four years later, he joined Dorsey & Whitney's Des Moines office where up until his death he worked as a senior partner in the public finance group.
Mr. Helmick shaped the legislation that created the Iowa Finance Authority, a key issuer of economic development-related deals. He was one of the architects of the Tobacco Settlement Authority Act that paved the way for the state's $650 million securitization and he worked the helped craft the plan for the bond-financed Vision Iowa program that helped local governments finance tourism and entertainment projects.
"He was truly a giant who was always willing to donate his time and talents for the public good. He didn't do it just to win over clients but because he wanted to improve Iowa," Bauer said. "I learned so much from that man."
Mr. Helmick's legacy extended beyond his public finance achievements. In addition to supporting local cultural and civic institutions, he was passionate about amateur sports. Mr. Helmick, a water polo player, helped enact the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, managed the country's water polo team in the 1972 Olympics, and rose through the ranks of the U.S Olympic Committee to serve as president from 1985 to 1991.
Mr. Helmick voluntarily resigned amid concerns raised over personal business he did with several groups that had ties to the Olympic Games. Though the connections appeared to violate conflict-of-interest rules, he denied that he used his influence to benefit those groups.
Friends said one of his greatest achievements during his committee tenure was the appointment of a commission headed by New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner after the U.S. team's poor performance at the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary. The commission's report led to dramatic improvements in funding for athletes' training and improved results at subsequent games. In 2001, Mr. Helmick was named a special adviser on the USOC's international relations committee and had been serving on the USOC's board of directors.
Mr. Helmick is survived by his wife, Georgia Voysey Helmick; four children from a previous marriage; and 13 grandchildren.
