Jerry Quickel gravitated toward football helmets early in life.
“I started collecting gum ball helmets as a kid. The gum ball helmets went to Dairy Queen helmets. I’ve always been infatuated with helmets,” laughed Quickel.
Now 58, the helmet passion continues as strong as ever. Quickel has 531 full-size football helmets as of mid-September 2023, primarily college helmets from both major and small schools.
At the time he was interviewed for this article, Quickel was on a business trip in Memphis, where he found time to visit Rhodes College and the University of Memphis. He brought home a new helmet from each to add to his collection.
But more important than the two new helmets are the relationships he made with the athletics staff at both schools. Quickel loves college football people, from athletic directors to student equipment managers and everyone in-between.
“For me, and for a lot of collectors of game stuff, it’s more about meeting the people and feeling like you are part of it [rather]
