Helmick Is Elected as Head of USOC

Robert H. Helmick, a lawyer from Des Moines, Iowa, Thursday formally was named president of the United States Olympic Committee, succeeding the late John B. Kelly Jr.

Helmick, 48, had been first vice president of the committee and had served as its president since Kelly died of a heart attack while jogging March 2 after holding the post just three weeks.

Helmick was nominated March 13 by the administrative committee to the USOC’s executive board, which authorized a mail vote on the nomination by board members. The balloting was to close today, but the USOC announced that Helmick had been elected when it became clear he had an overwhelming majority of the 82 votes cast.