b'A Tribute to Junior Bridgeman: Honoring a Legend It is with heavy hearts that we write of the passing of CCBA Board Member Junior Bridgeman, who passed away on March 11, 2025. It is our honor to share the familys tribute as published in EBONY. From the basketball court to the boardroom, Ulysses Lee Bridgeman, affectionately known as Junior, followed his own path of determination and self-reliance. Throughout his memorable NBA career, unprecedented success as a restauranteur and Coca-Cola bottler, along with his more recent purchase of EBONY | JET and minority ownership in the Milwaukee Bucks, he led with a servant heart; always putting people first.Throughout his life, Junior measured his success asan opportunity to have a positive impact on the livesof others.The Early YearsJunior Bridgeman was born on September 17, 1953, in East Chicago, Indiana. His father, Ulysses Sr., was a long- time steel mill worker and his mother, Dolores, was aBridgeman was known as one of the top sixth men in the homemaker. Growing up in East Chicago, he experiencedleague during his 12-year NBA tenure. His first nine years economic struggles during his childhood but did not letwere with the Milwaukee Bucks and he played two years socio-economic factors paralyze his goals for the future. with the Los Angeles Clippers before returning to the Gifted in basketball, he played for East ChicagoBucks to finish his career.Washington High School, leading his team to a 29-0Amongst his accomplishments on the court, Bridgeman season and to the Indiana state championship his seniorscored a career-high 41 points against the Boston Celtics year. His exceptional talent earned him a scholarship toin 1976. He also played more games than any other player the University of Louisville, where he was an All-Americanin Bucks history and is among the teams all-time leaders guard for the Cardinals. in points, minutes, steals and field goals. In honor of these Named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Yearstunning feats, his #2 jersey was retired by the Bucks in in 1974 and 1975, Bridgeman, standing at 6 ft. 5 in his1988.guard/forward position, led the Louisville Cardinals to Always connected to his roots, Bridgeman served as the the 1974 NCAA Tournament his junior year and the Finalpresident of the National Basketball Players Association Four his senior year.from 1985 to 1988.In 1975, he married his college sweetheart, Doris PayneBusiness Leader and Entrepreneurand earned a bachelors degree in psychology. He wasDuring his 12-year sports tenure, Bridgeman spent his time later inducted into the University of Louisville College ofmanaging and learning the ins and outs of the Wendys Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame in 2007.fast-food restaurant franchise. On the Court Upon his sports retirement in 1987, he invested in hisDrafted eighth overall in the first round of the 1975 NBAfirst Wendys Restaurant and went on to purchase five draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, Bridgeman was traded toadditional Wendys in the Milwaukee area in 1988. Overthe Milwaukee Bucks in an all-star deal that included Hallthe next twenty years he grew multiple brands as a of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.franchisee with a peak of 525 restaurants in 2015 including Wendys, Chilis, Fazolis and various other concepts. 12'