Helene Schultz Pillsbury

Year Inducted: 2014

Helene Schultz was born in Port Huron in 1961. Raised by her parents, Arlene and Fred Kuhr in a large “blended” family, Schultz would learn the importance of teamwork, sacrifice and self-motivation.

In the early 1970s, when Schultz was in junior high, there were no organized sports for girls, but with encouragement from one of her dedicated teachers, Rico Ruiz, she was given the opportunity to stay after school and play sports with the boys.

In 1974, Port Huron established an organized girls baseball league for 13-15 year olds. Schultz played for Arena Sports and in her three years she would help lead teams to three consecutive League Championships.
“Schultzie” would become one of Port Huron Northern’s best all-around athletes. She was the first female to make varsity in three sports – basketball, volleyball, softball – all four years. From 1975 to 1979, she earned 12 varsity letters and was awarded various All-League and All-Blue Water Area honors in all three sports.

Most of Schultz’s success at PHN came on the softball field. As a four-year starter and the primary pitcher (74-12 won-loss record), she helped lead teams to three Eastern Michigan League, three Class A district and four City titles. As a senior in 1979, she had a season record .627 batting average, which still stands.

Schultz gives a lot of credit for such team success to the play of so many talented teammates – Lynn O’Dell, Terry Davey, Lisa Marcero, Michelle Phillips, Kelly Moore, Sue Wine and many others, and the inspirational coaching of Mike Dias.

Schultz was selected to the first Detroit Free Press All-State Softball Team and was named Senior Hall of Fame Female Athlete of the Year, with a GPA of 3.94. As a freshman in college, Helene earned varsity letters in field hockey and softball. She also was a member of the local Stringers travel softball team, which won multiple Port Huron City titles and captured Class A state titles in 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1983. A league Most Valuable Player, she excelled playing modified and slow-pitch. She competed with Stringers in National Slow-Pitch tournaments in Texas (1979), Ohio (1980) and California (1983).

As a freshman at Grand Valley College, Schultz earned varsity letters in field hockey and softball, but then decided to forego college sports and focus on academics. In 1983, Schultz graduated with honors from the St. Clair County Community College nursing program and in 1985 and 1987 earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in healthcare science and administration from Central Michigan University.

Schultz-Pillsbury still enjoys watching, learning and playing in various sports. She and her husband, Curt, share a passion for golf and spend time between homes in Ann Arbor and Fort Myers, Florida.