Junior Bridgeman, the former NBA player who served on the PGA of America’s board and was part of Valhalla Golf Club’s ownership group, died this week. Bridgeman was 71 and reportedly suffered a medical emergency at the Galt House in Louisville on March 11, and he was taken to the hospital by first responders.
As an athlete, Bridgeman starred at the University of Louisville and is best known for playing his entire 12-year career with the Milwaukee Bucks. And while he was never an NBA All-Star, Bridgeman’s number 2 jersey was retired by the Bucks in 1988 because he ranks third in franchise history in games played, 10th in minutes and ninth in points.
After his playing career, Bridgeman became a billionaire entrepreneur, mostly through his ownership of hundreds of Wendy’s restaurants, as well as owning Coca-Cola bottling distributorships in three states. He also owned two magazines, Ebony and Jet, that served the Black community.
Bridgeman was an avid golfer who served as a course-rating panelist for Golf Digest, and in a social media post this week, well-known instructor Jim McLean wrote, “He came to my golf school, so I got to know him there. I would see him occasionally and he always had a friendly word. He was great to watch play, but so inspiring as a businessman and just a very nice human being. He led an incredible life.”
Bridgeman served as an independent board member of the PGA of America, and he was part of a group of Louisville businessmen who purchased Valhalla Golf Club in 2022. Last year, the club hosted the PGA Championship for the third time.
Calling Bridgeman a “true lover of golf,” current PGA of America president Don Rea Jr., wrote in a Facebook post, “His love for our sport was on display during the time he spent as an independent board member where he provided incredible insights and guidance.”
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
