[1][2][3] A lifelong resident of the Upper Peninsula, and of the same block in Dollar Bay, Michigan his entire life, Hellman bought a gas station when he was a senior in high school, and was elected township supervisor, for Osceola Township, at age 21.

[4][5] "Hellman Avenue", a road in Dollar Bay (Houghton County) is named after him, after he got it paved.

So he was able to get a bunch of other reps to meet him in Iron Mountain where he was going to take them on a tour of Rusty’s district, 110th.

He loaded them on a school bus on the gravel highway, and told the driver to not hit the speed limit.

After bouncing around inside that tin can on a crappy road, all the reps agreed that it should be paved.