Obituary for James Robert Helduser
James Robert “Jim Bob” Helduser, 52, of College Station went to be with His Lord and Savior on Friday, February 26, 2010. Visitation with the family will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, March 1, at Hillier Funeral Home in Bryan. A memorial celebration will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, at Grace Bible Church, located at 700 Anderson St. in College Station. A private family burial will be at Aggie Field of Honor in Memorial Cemetery of College Station. Dr. Jimmy Cobb of San Marcos, Texas, will officiate.
Born February 27, 1957, in Groves, Texas, Jim Bob was the only child of Jim (Steed) and Robert Edward Helduser. He attended First Christian Church-Disciples of Christ in Port Arthur and was an Eagle Scout by age 13. An exceptional junior golfer, Jim Bob was also a three-sport athlete at Port-Neches Groves High School where he played on the PNG Indians state semi-finalist football team. He graduated with highest honors in 1975.
He attended Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, where he played on the squad that captured the 1975 NAIA championship. Jim Bob graduated summa cum laude in May 1979 with a degree in biology. He would later earn a master’s degree in educational administration from Texas State University.
Jim Bob began his football coaching career at Rice University, where he coached from 1979 to 1984. He spent the next 11 seasons at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, where he coached almost every position before assuming head coaching responsibilities from 1992 to 1996. Other collegiate coaching jobs included Texas Christian University (1998 to 2000), the University of Alabama (2001 to 2002), and Texas A&M University (2003 to 2007). His offensive lines were continually ranked in the top 10 in the nation.
High school coaching jobs included Alief-Elsik High School, Lake Travis High School and Bryan High School, where he retired after the 2009 Viking football season.
A man of great integrity, Jim Bob was best known for his exceptional character and his passion for coaching football. It is not uncommon to hear people describe Jim Bob as “the finest man I’ve ever known.” He was honest and fair, humble but self-confident, had an incredible work ethic, and was dedicated to mentoring young athletes.
He was preceded in death by his father, Robert, and his stepfather, Charles Everett Sr.
Survivors include his mother, Jim Everett of Bryan, formerly of Groves; wife of 23 years, Janet; son and daughter-in-law, Brant and Noelle Helduser of Houston; daughters, Kylene and Jenna Helduser of College Station; two grandchildren, Ashton and Hailey Helduser; step-siblings, Charles Everett of Virginia, Debbie Everett of New York and Caroline Meyer of George West, Texas; sister-in-law, Linda Wiegman of Austin; and in-laws, Don and Dorothy Wiegman of San Antonio.
Honorary pallbearers for the memorial celebration will be Bryan High School varsity football offensive linemen Colton Barnes, Ryan Elkins, Alex Mendez, Logan Toomer and Daniel Wright.
Memorial contributions may be made to Brazos Valley Hospice, 502 W. 26th Street, Bryan, TX 77803 or to establish the Jim Bob Helduser Offensive Line Scholarship c/o the TAMU 12th Man Foundation, PO Box 2800, College Station, TX 77841.
