One Step Beyond: Helping the Uncertain Mind Reach Its Full Potential.

By Alex "Sonny Boy" Bellehumeur

Alex (Sonny Boy) Bellehumeur, author, herein dedicates this journal to Dr. Stuart Farber, dean of students and professor at the College of Business Administration at California State University, who encouraged Alex to publish a book about his life.

Cal State Long Beach (CSULB), held special events with hundreds of current and former students each year. Alex Bellehumeur, past president of the Port of Long Beach and then Governor appointee and chairman of the World Trade Commission, was asked by Dr. Farber to be the keynote speaker at one of these affairs in front of over six hundred attendees aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California.
We met early and began “The Walk”, during which time Dean Farber extracted details of my youth, and believed the audience should know the challenges I was able to overcome. This had nothing to do with my planned speech.
Thoughts from Dr. Farber: • “In all my years of hosting this special event, I have never had such an incredible response from the audience.” • “You have changed the lives of many attendees.” • “A book of your past challenges and how they were overcome by taking that ‘one step beyond’ would have a life-changing effect on those whose life’s growth potential would not otherwise be met.”

It has been 16 years from when Dr. Farber made such a request, that Alex began the process in the hope of encouraging the readers to take that “One Step Beyond”.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Feb 22, 2023
• ISBN: 9781665735230

Alex "Sonny Boy" Bellehumeur

Alex “Sonny Boy” Bellehumeur was physically and emotionally abused as boy but ended up enjoying success in business and politcs. Overcoming life’s challenges by taking that “One Step Beyond”.

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Copyright © 2023 Alex Sonny Boy Bellehumeur.

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brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author

and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of

the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of

people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

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ISBN: 978-1-6657-3524-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3522-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6657-3523-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022923150

Archway Publishing rev. date: 2/13/2023

CONTENTS

A Bit of the Past

Catalyst

Author’s Note

Preface

Chapter 1     Bear Hill

Chapter 2     Alcoholism and Abuse

Chapter 3     A Real Home

Chapter 4     Moving to California

Chapter 5     Learning Not to Prejudge

Chapter 6     The Gift of Giving

Chapter 7     A Building Block of Character

Chapter 8     A Real Home—A Life-Changing Event

Chapter 9     Entering College

Chapter 10   Sports

Chapter 11   Cal State Long Beach

An Example of Prejudice

Chapter 12   Postcollege

Chapter 13   More Ventures with Roy

Chapter 14   A Reluctant Opportunity

Chapter 15   A New Direction

Chapter 16   Bill Lear—Lear Reno

Chapter 17   Greed—Personal Examples

Chapter 18   Post–State-Wide Developers Retirement

International Football League

International Roller Hockey League

Collection Agency

Equestrian Center

Long Beach Tram System

Collapsible Shipping Container

Environmental Projects

Convert-a-Belle (CB)—Innovative Affordable Housing

Other Inventions

Chapter 19   A Call from the Editor

Chapter 20   Civic and Political Involvement

Mayor’s Task Force

President Emeritus—Port of Long Beach

Saving the Queen Mary

Alameda Corridor

COSCO SHIPPING Lines:

Vietnam

Kobe, Japan—Earthquake

Governor-Appointed World Trade Commissioner

International City Theatre in Trouble

CSULB—Keynote Speaker

Long Beach Memorial Medical Center

Chapter 21   The Passing of Mom and Dad

Chapter 22   My First Love

Our Marriage

Elvis and the Crazy Eight

Epilogue

This journal and the accompanying summary utilize the

author’s challenges and successes along with key mindsets

to help young readers realize their full potential.

A BIT OF THE PAST

Alex (Sonny Boy) Bellehumeur has statewide (and beyond) recognition due to his civic and board memberships over the decades. He has served as president of a political assembly, president of an airport advisory commission, president emeritus of the Port of Long Beach Harbor Commission (then number one in North America, Alex traveled on port business to many parts of the world, including Asia), and a governor-appointed member of the World Trade Commission (of which he was also president). Alex is also the founder of two international professional sports leagues televised by ESPN.

Over the years, Alex was included in a top Long Beach magazine as one of the city’s most innovative minds (article and photo in book). He was also featured in the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of their top eight over eighty achievers, which also included Norman Lear and Marion Ross (article and photo also in book).

Here’s what readers are saying about Alex’s memoir One Step Beyond (reader responses have been edited for style and clarity):

What a wonder man! Congratulations, Alex Bellehumeur, on a magnificent, amazing, exciting, enriching, and inspiring One Step Beyond. You are remarkable! You’ve set the bar in persisting, persevering, and enduring in many unique and extraordinary segments of worth, overcoming colossal amounts of early obstacles and later [creating] so many diverse businesses and inventions through daunting missteps, leaning on your latitude of leadership. Wow!

Your spirit, dynamism, leadership skills, and mind-over-matter organizational skills are so entrenched. I am gripped with the depths of the execution that was appropriated to maintain the colossal amounts of demands on so many levels in your life’s work and entanglements. (Mari Hooper, one of the most admired, successful, and well-known people in the county of Los Angeles)

The message in your book is empowering because everyone, no matter how successful, experiences depressive times in their lives and needs to know there is a way out. Your college professor (dean of students) was right to encourage you to speak about your story so others could be lifted up by your message. I wish you all the best with your book and getting it out to the people who can appreciate and benefit from it. —Debi Vilander, branch supervisor of Long Beach Public Library

What an incredible life you have lived. I had no idea you were born in such humble beginnings and experienced such tragic abuse. It’s amazing the details you remember. As someone fourteen years your junior, I have nowhere near the specific memories of my boyhood as you do. Your book makes me want to try and do the same for my life, even though it’s nowhere near as interesting as yours. I very much enjoyed reading it, as I only knew a few of these stories. I’m so impressed with your incredible memory and writing talents. I can’t wait to get a personally autographed book. —Randy Gordan, president of Long Beach Chamber of Commerce

"‘Life well lived’ is an appealing concept for all of us, and we all would love to have others say that about our lives. After reading Alex Bellehumeur’s memoir, I came away thinking he really has lived life well. What drew me in was how one principle popped up again and again to unify the different parts of Alex’s life. When Alex seemingly did everything he could do, he consistently pushed himself to take one step beyond. One Step Beyond is an excellent title for the book because this expression resonates well with Alex’s approach to what life throws at each of us. Alex also shows the reader how ‘one step beyond’ is engrained in his character and personality. It is an engaging book, surprisingly effective and implementable." —Michael Solt, dean of the College of Business Administration and Professor of Finance at California State University, Long Beach)

CATALYST

Dr. Stuart Farber, dean of students and professor at the College of Business Administration at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), held special events with hundreds of current and former students each year. Alex Bellehumeur, past president of the Port of Long Beach and then chairman of the World Trade Commission, was asked by Dr. Farber to be the keynote speaker at one of these affairs in front of over six hundred attendees aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California.

Thoughts from Dr. Farber:

• In all my years of hosting this special event, I have never had such an incredible response from the audience.

• You have changed the lives of many attendees.

• A book of your past challenges and how they were overcome by taking that ‘one step beyond’ would have a life-changing effect on those whose life’s growth potential would not otherwise be met.

• This book is a wonderful example of human effort and balance and provides readers with both the history and drama of a young man growing up in a poor family and all that such a life entails.

• The author writes about plain issues, behavior, and the genesis of a boy determined to make the best of his given world.

Some of the preparation for this book was developed on and about the Queen Mary. Dr. Farber and Mr. Bellehumeur met and spoke prior to his keynote speech. What took place over the course of two hours that day has come to be known as the walk. Dr. Farber engaged Mr. Bellehumeur in a conversation regarding the substance of his lecture. As they began their walk about the grounds of the Queen, Dr. Farber suggested that the mostly business-student audience from CSULB might find Alex’s personal feelings about his writings most interesting and suggested he speak directly to them.

As the walk progressed, Alex brought up more personal and human feelings that he had about his journal, which ultimately became One Step Beyond. Subsequently, during his speech, the audience became captivated with Mr. Bellehumeur, his life, and his writings. The presentation led to a lengthy and energized applause at the closure of his speech. Thus, the book and all the special feelings that go along with it were the direct result of the university’s student audience.

The text talks about the hard times in life, the purpose of family, and the strength of a don’t give up way of life. The author discusses the value of sometimes taking the necessary one step beyond. As the book takes you through the events of Alex’s boyhood, education, and young friendships, you realize how important family, friends, and school are to the successful growth and development of a child.

The author provides insight into child growth patterns and thought development, careful to expose all sides of the issues and problems as he grows into adulthood. Especially graphic are the feelings of being part of a poor family with problems and a strong need to prevail.

As the story progresses, the reader will learn about Alex’s stressors and look forward to the relatable one step beyond advice. This book is a lifestyle commentary presented in a direct human relations and conceptual manner by Mr. Bellehumeur, CEO of Bellehumeur Companies. Please look forward to the reading of One Step Beyond and the presentation of a man determined by his growth, strength, forgiveness, and maturation, which guide him through the adventures of his life.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Please note I did not intend to speak about my upbringing, nor have I in the past.

However, I reluctantly accepted the request by Dean Farber during the walk with that segment of the presentation being impromptu. When completed, it was very difficult to get my emotions under control and make the transition to the speech I spent much time preparing. I was stunned by the reaction of the audience.

I received a call from Dean Farber two weeks after the speech, and he was amazed at the calls from the audience stating that the speech had changed their lives. It was then that Dean Farber strongly recommended I publish a book about my life’s journey. It took me nearly fifteen years to make that decision.

PREFACE

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Sonny Boy

I, Sonny Boy, am eighty-eight years young and remain quite active (perhaps too much so). As is the case with most individuals at or about my age, I am beginning to understand the importance of my legacy.

As my life ends and I reflect on my contributions to the world, what is most crucial to me is that I’m able to say I was a good man who used my God-given abilities to their maximum potential. It’s also my hope that I can share my experiences and challenges with others who are in the process of creating their legacies and impart the value of taking one step beyond.

While documenting the highlights of my existence, I realized that outside of my immediate relatives, few others know my family’s history. Consequently, our current