Monte Brethauer
Monte Leon Brethauer was born in Portland, Oregon, on April 8, 1931. His parents were Samuel and Beatrice Mary (née Helzer) Brethauer. Samuel Brethauer's parents immigrated to the United States from Walter, Russia, in 1903. Beatrice Mary Helzer's family emigrated from Norka, Russia, in 1900.
The family lived at 4135 N.E. 15th Avenue, near Skidmore Street.
The family lived at 4135 N.E. 15th Avenue, near Skidmore Street.
Monte attended Highland Grade School (now Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School) and Jefferson High School (class of 1949) in Portland, Oregon, where he was a four-year football letter-winner; twice a first Team All-Portland Interscholastic League (PIL) selection; a member of two PIL Championship teams; a runner up in Oregon State Playoffs; and a player in the annual Oregon Shrine Game.
Monte was selected as a PIL Hall of Fame member in 2005.
Monte was selected as a PIL Hall of Fame member in 2005.
Page from the 1948-1949 Jefferson High School "Spectrum" yearbook featuring members of that year's football team, including Monte Brethauer. Courtesy of Harold Kammerzell.
According to Monte's cousin, Melvin (Mel) Cook, Monte modeled clothes for advertisements in both The Oregon Journal and The Oregonian newspapers during his sophomore and senior years at Jefferson High School.
Black and white photo of University of Oregon football player Monte Brethauer, who played for the Ducks 1950-52. Brethauer is showing his hands, while two other individuals, behind him, show theirs, creating an image of Brethauer having six hands, to emphasize the success he enjoyed as a pass receiver. Photo used with permissions granted by the University of Oregon Libraries.
Monte became a football letter winner (1950, 1951, 1952), playing for Len Casanova at the University of Oregon, where he set a record for pass receptions with 101. Brethauer was selected as an All-Pacific Coast Conference receiver.
Monte Brethauer with his University of Oregon teammates and coach in Seattle before a game with the University of Washington in 1952. Pictured from left to right: Hal Dunham, quarterback; Emery Barnes, end; Monte Brethauer, end; George Shaw, back; and Oregon Coach Len Casanova.
After college, Monte was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the 1953 National Football League draft and played as a punter and wide receiver for two seasons (1953 and 1955). Brethauer was considered the Colts' top rookie in 1953 but was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1954 during the Korean War.
Monte Brethauer passed away in Portland on October 14, 1994, and was interred at Rose City Cemetery.
Monte Brethauer passed away in Portland on October 14, 1994, and was interred at Rose City Cemetery.
Sources
PIL Hall of Fame website
Ancestry.com
NFL.com
University of Oregon Libraries
Melvin W. Cook
Monte Brethauer's NFL Statistics
Ancestry.com
NFL.com
University of Oregon Libraries
Melvin W. Cook
Monte Brethauer's NFL Statistics
Last updated October 7, 2025