A Path to Becoming

This is the life journey of Oscar Alonzo Ham, or "Bud", as he prefers to be known. Bud was born in 1932 and grew up in the ranching and farming country in the Arkansas River Valley in south-central Colorado. His family lived on a small farm. One of his grandfathers had a cattle ranch near the Royal Gorge - his favorite place of employment as a boy. After graduating from Florence High School in Colorado he joined the United States Marine Corps after his 18th birthday, in September of 1950. He does not regret one day of his time in the Corps. After his discharge from the Corps he enjoyed a 20-year career with Mountain Bell Telephone Co. He spent three years as a lineman and experienced seven promotions in the following years including: Microwave Technician; Salesman; Exchange Manager; Management Trainer; In-company Management Consultant and State Cashier. He credits the Dale Carnegie Human Relations Course as being pivotal in his professional growth. The three-year experience as an in-company consultant prompted him to leave the Bell System and for the next four decades pursue a career as a motivational speaker; management consultant, and author. This memoir will lead you through the life and life lessons learned through good times and bad. The lessons that made Bud the spiritual man he is today. He'll take you through tales of fishing and hunting excursions, bear encounters, blizzards, and even a secret assignment to Norad's Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station. Bud has also included several of his favorite poems he has written over the years.