It’s with deep disappointment that EBONY shares the passing of Ulysses Lee Bridgeman, who died on March 11, 2025. He was 71 years previous.
From the basketball courtroom to the boardroom, Ulysses Lee Bridgeman, affectionately generally known as Junior, adopted his personal path of willpower and self-reliance. All through his memorable NBA profession, unprecedented success as a restauranteur and Coca-Cola bottler, alongside along with his newer buy of EBONY | JET and minority possession within the Milwaukee Bucks, he led with a servant coronary heart; all the time placing individuals first.
All through his life, Junior measured his success as a possibility to have a optimistic influence on the lives of others.
The Early Years
Junior Bridgeman was born on September 17, 1953, in East Chicago, Indiana. His father, Ulysses Sr., was a long-time metal mill employee and his mom, Dolores, was a homemaker. Rising up in East Chicago, he skilled financial struggles throughout his childhood however didn’t let socio-economic elements paralyze his targets for the long run.
Gifted in basketball, he performed for East Chicago Washington Excessive College, main his staff to a 29-0 season and to the Indiana state championship his senior yr. His distinctive expertise earned him a scholarship to the College of Louisville, the place he was an All-American guard for the Cardinals.
Named the Missouri Valley Convention Participant of the 12 months in 1974 and 1975, Bridgeman, standing at 6 ft. 5 in his guard/ahead place, led the Louisville Cardinals to the 1974 NCAA Match his junior yr and the Last 4 his senior yr.
In 1975, he married his faculty sweetheart, Doris Payne, and earned a bachelor’s diploma in psychology. He was later inducted into the College of Louisville Faculty of Arts and Sciences Corridor of Fame in 2007.
On the Court docket
Drafted eighth general within the first spherical of the 1975 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, Bridgeman was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in an all-star deal that included Corridor of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Bridgeman was generally known as one of many high sixth males within the league throughout his 12-year NBA tenure. His first 9 years had been with the Milwaukee Bucks and he performed two years with the Los Angeles Clippers earlier than returning to the Bucks to complete his profession.
Amongst his accomplishments on the courtroom, Bridgeman scored a career-high 41 factors towards the Boston Celtics in 1976. He additionally performed extra video games than another participant in Bucks’ historical past and is among the many staff’s all-time leaders in factors, minutes, steals and discipline targets. In honor of those beautiful feats, his #2 jersey was retired by the Bucks in 1988.
All the time linked to his roots, Bridgeman served because the president of the Nationwide Basketball Gamers Affiliation from 1985 to 1988.
Enterprise Chief and Entrepreneur
Throughout his 12-year sports activities tenure, Bridgeman spent his time managing and studying the ins and outs of the Wendy’s fast-food restaurant franchise.
Upon his sports activities retirement in 1987, he invested in his first Wendy’s Restaurant and went on to buy 5 extra Wendy’s within the Milwaukee space in 1988. Over the subsequent twenty years he grew a number of manufacturers as a franchisee with a peak of 525 eating places in 2015 together with Wendy’s, Chili’s, Fazoli’s and varied different ideas. A person of nice religion, his firm, Manna, grew to become a logo of his unwavering perception in God and foundational dedication to integrity, generosity and repair.
The entrepreneurial spirit struck once more in 2016. Bridgeman bought half his restaurant franchises and bought Heartland, a Coca-Cola bottling firm. He later went to spend money on a Canadian Coca-Cola bottling firm as properly.
The EBONY Years
In January 2021, Bridgeman, by way of 1145 Holdings, LLC., bought EBONY and JET. His daughter, Eden Bridgeman, who rose in ranks to function CMO of Manna, Inc., took the reigns as CEO of EBONY, reframing it as a digital media model dedicated to “Shifting Black Ahead.”
Prior to now 4 years, EBONY has advanced right into a digital stronghold which incorporates curation of impactful digital covers and cultural occasions resembling EBONY Energy 100. Underneath the Bridgemans, EBONY has seen exponential progress, transferring from a revered print journal right into a culturally resonant media powerhouse, renewing the publication’s profound legacy into a brand new age.
“Whenever you have a look at EBONY, you have a look at the historical past not only for Black individuals, however of the US,” Junior Bridgeman as soon as shared. “I believe it’s one thing {that a} era is lacking, and we need to carry that again as a lot as we will.”
Honored and Giving Again
Bridgeman’s accomplishments had been duly acknowledged all through his life. In 1999, he was a recipient of the NCAA Honors Committee Silver Anniversary Award, which honors former student-athletes who’ve distinguished themselves since finishing their faculty athletics careers 25 years prior.
He additionally acquired the Coach Wood Keys to Life Award in 2001, Missouri Valley Convention Corridor of Fame in 2009, Kentucky Entrepreneur Corridor of Fame in 2014, Larger Louisville Inc. Gold Cup Award in 2019 and in 2023, the Keepers of the Dream Freedom Award from the Metropolis of Louisville together with quite a few different awards each private and business-related.
Junior and Doris Bridgeman acquired an honorary Physician of Public Service diploma from the College of Louisville for his or her longstanding group service.
Persevering with of their custom of service, the Bridgeman Charitable Group based the Trifecta Gala, a prestigious, celebrity-studded Kentucky Derby occasion in Louisville, that honored the contributions of African People to Derby historical past. All through the years, this charitable occasion, donated proceeds to varied organizations throughout the state.
A Lifetime of Religion and Service
Junior was a person of deep Christian religion, which performed a major function all through his life. He was an energetic member of Southeast Christian Church, a Louisville megachurch identified for its robust group outreach and dedication to the gospel.
His religion influenced his method to enterprise, management, and philanthropy. Bridgeman typically spoke concerning the significance of integrity, humility, and serving others, values that aligned along with his Christian beliefs. He was concerned in quite a few charitable efforts, notably specializing in youth training and group improvement.
At the same time as his enterprise empire grew, Bridgeman remained dedicated to his church and religion, regularly supporting Christian-based initiatives and emphasizing the function of God’s steerage in his success.
His unwavering religion and dedication to service left an indelible mark on his group, inspiring many by way of his actions and management.
Again to House Court docket
In a full circle transfer, Bridgeman returned to the place his profession started to buy a minority proprietor curiosity within the Milwaukee Bucks in September 2024. With the deal, he grew to become the sixth skilled athlete to be value $1 billion or extra and was named by Forbes as a brand new American Billionaire.
In Remembrance
Bridgeman is survived by his loving spouse of fifty years, Doris; his three kids, Justin, Ryan and Eden; his six grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, pals, colleagues, family members and lots of different lives he touched.
Junior Bridgeman, undoubtedly, made a distinction in hundreds of lives by way of his religion, management and compassion. His presence will likely be missed by his EBONY household and past.
