12/12/2025
Arcadia's Best remembers the indefatigable Jim Helms, who died this week at age 100, with a couple short video snippets below that we recorded of him in 2008 and 2009 speaking at an Arcadia Historical Society ice cream social about his former days in Arcadia politics, and at the 75th anniversary celebration of the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce.
Arcadia's Best founder Scott Hettrick was proud to be part of honoring Jim twice in 2015, both of which were noted in the Arcadia Weekly:
* Arcadia Attorney, Former Mayor Jim Helms
Receives ‘Business Icon’ Award
May 1, 2015 (
https://heysocal.com/2015/05/01/arcadia-attorney-former-mayor-jim-helms-receives-business-icon-award/ )
Jim Helms was very happy to accept the Business Icon tribute from Arcadia Chamber CEO Scott Hettrick and Arcadia Historical Society President Gene Glasco for his dedicated work as an attorney since 1952. Jim, who is also a former Mayor of Arcadia (1971-72). Arcadia Chamber President, and Arcadia Citizen of the Year in 1979 and again in 2004 (one of only three people who have been honored twice), has been practicing law for more than 60 years and specializes in Estate planning, Probate, Business, Bar and court admissions. His Helms & Myers firm’s office is at the eight-story white Towne Centre Building at 150 North Santa Anita Avenue. He has been Judge Pro Tem, Superior Court, Law and Motion Probate since 1989.
* Record-Breaking Crowd at Historic Arcadia Elks Lodge Event;
Arcadia Former Mayor and Elks Founder Jim Helms
at Arcadia Chamber Mixer
July 15, 2015 ( https://heysocal.com/2015/07/15/the-social-whirl-71615/ )
A record-breaking crowd of 157 attended the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce’s mixer/ribbon cutting for the Arcadia Elks Lodge 2025 on Thursday, June 23rd. A good time was had by all. A handful of first-timers at the Lodge signed up to be members of the civic group.
Chamber CEO Scott Hettrick noted that the Arcadia Elks were formed in 1957 by former Arcadia Mayor Jim Helms, a lawyer who was also recently presented a Business Icon tribute. Hettrick introduced an emotional Helms, who received loud applause. Many attendees were setting foot in the spacious lodge for the first time.
