Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yesterday we lost a hero in life. Junior Bridgman, at
age seventy one, died of a heart attack after he
was trying to help others raise money for the Boy
Scouts here in Louisville, Kentucky. I'm privileged to have a
dear friend that was a dear friend of Junior Bridgeman's,
(00:20):
Dave Stone, former senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church. And Dave,
good morning to you. I appreciate your time this morning.
Tell us about the Junior Bridgeman that you knew.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Well. Thanks, Thanks, Tony. I just had such love and
respect for him.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
I first met him when I came to Louisville back
in nineteen eighty nine, and he gave me a warm welcome.
It was within a few months that would struck up
a friendship. And as you well know, he did not
enjoy speaking.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
He didn't enjoy talking.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
He would agree to it reluctantly, even though he was
incredible at it.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
And I had him.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
I was leading the college age group at that time,
and I talked him somehow into sharing his testimony and
just talking with one hundred and fifty college age kids,
and that's what he did, and he held them spell bound,
and that was the.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Start of a great friendship.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
And just never seen a guy that was such a
class act, a picture of humility, steady, consistent, even keel.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
He was a servant in every sense of the word
and loved the Lord, and he.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Was not ashamed to tell people that he was a
man of faith and a great family man.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
To me, I mean, I remember one I used to
be on the board of Boys and Girls Haven, and
he really challenged the people when we were doing raising
some money to really, you know, give more. He really
believed in a lot of these different kinds of charities,
(02:10):
some that will never know about even but I remember
also not only did he help us raise money, but
he did more than that. He gave more obviously than
anybody else. He was a real giver of the gifts
that God gave him.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yeah, he was always known as a generous man.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
But you know, it's important, I think for everybody to
realize he was like that all the way throughout his life.
I mean, he was one of those guys that just
constantly was just trying to reach out to people, and
he was constantly being hit up for money as well. Yeah,
and yet it was just a picture of who he
was and what he did. I think back to the
(02:55):
fact that you know, we keep hearing the term billionaire
at the last the last few hours since his passing,
and yet that is the last way he would ever
want to be known. I remember when Forbes magazine came
out with him on the cover last month and I
told Beth, I said, oh, I said.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
No, one hates that anymore than.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Junior Bridgement, because I mean, I think every single person
who knows him, they saw that and you kind of cringed.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
It was like, Oh, that's so cool, there's Junior.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
But the other side of it was, oh, that's that's
not what he wants to be known for. And I'm
telling you, I think he just gave and gave away
so much. He did so much for the community in
so many different ways. He introduced me to the West
End School. There are countless projects that he was involved in,
(03:50):
and I.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Know that he was generous in so many different ways.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
And that's the way he lived, even when he had
modest means.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
That's how he lived.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
He was a boots on the ground kind of guy.
And what I mean by that is financial literacy. He
learned financial literacy all by himself, and I hope this
new bill if it passes with the legislature. I think
it's a great bill of getting kids to learn financial
literacy as a core curriculum by the time they're a
(04:22):
junior or senior. I think it could help a lot
of people because he was at fundamentally he helped a
lot of people. I was watching Charles Barkley, I was
watching Shack and others last night bragging about how he
helped them with their finances, and both of them indicated
that they wish that Junior Bridgeman would be able to
(04:43):
go and talk to young players like it should be
not optional for young guys that are going into the
NBA to learn how to to, you know, work with finances.
And he would have been a great Oh. He did
do it with some right, he.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Did it with basketball teams, but he also did it
for some teams outside of basketball because there was a
stretch where he had such notoriety as the NBA player representative,
the different teams would have him come in and do that.
And of course those kids were making tons more money more.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Than than Junior ever did. But that that also reveals
his humility and his servant's heart.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
You know, I remember years ago Joe Elliott when he
had his show on w HS in the evening. One
time somebody called and they were talking about athletes and
how they they don't do anything after they after they
leave college or after they leave professional sports. And this
guy said, you know what he said the other other
day was going through a Windy's and lo and behold,
(05:46):
I look up and I'm going through the drive through
and Junior Bridgeman's the guy who who hands me my Windy's.
And I thought, man a life. If ever, I thought
there was a guy that was going to make something
of his life. And yet there he is working working
at Wendy's. And Joe Elliots said, sir, he owns all
of the Wendy's in Chicago, Milwaukee, and in Louisville, and
(06:09):
he does that because he likes to be right there
with his workers.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
So did they realize that he's no different than they all?
Speaker 1 (06:17):
He was talking, Yeah, he was talking about a story.
When he started with the five Wendy's, he was in
basically an African American community he acknowledges, and he said,
you know, there were times somebody might be caught speeding
or something like that, and he would bail them out
and he said, that's he said, you've got to you've
got to lead. He would bail somebody out and they'd
(06:40):
come back, you know, and work for him and those
kinds of things, and that's what developed his loyalty. It's
that kind of servant hood that you're talking about. When
good you know, when companies do things the right way,
then people want to follow that and people will. It
looks like what we seen with Chick fil A. You know,
they've they've been really good at service and that kind
(07:00):
of thing. And that's exactly probably the model that Junior
Bridgeman did before anybody, it seems like in the restaurant industry.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Yeah, I think you're right. And even though it's sad.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
His loss and we mourn his loss, he was a
committed Christian and in the big scheme of things, in
the eternal scheme of things, and I know his family.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Feels this way, he's going on to get his reward.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
There's a verse in the Bible that says we do
not grieve as those who have no hope. And even
though we feel like his life was cut short and
we're going to miss his impact on our community. We
know where he is, we know why he's there. He
put his trust in Christ and he was always telling
(07:51):
others about his love for Jesus. I remember if you
were at Dinny Crumb's funeral, but he.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Basically preached it.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Junior preached a powerful sermon when he was up talking
for about five minutes. And he's a guy who always
has kept his feet on the ground and has never
accepted the praise.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
He's always quick to pass it on to others.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
And in any conversation, he always made you the focal
point and turned the conversation in your direction. And he
didn't take didn't take any of the accolades.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
He was one of those guys that made you feel
like you were the only person in the room. And
that's a great talent, you know, Dave. I'm not trying
to pry, but do we know when services are going
to be yet?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Not? Not yet?
Speaker 3 (08:38):
And I think they're they're still figuring those things out.
You know, when it's it's sudden and abrupt like this,
it's so different than when when you see see it coming, uh,
you know, over the course of a few days. And
I don't think that's been finalized yet, but I've got
some assumptions in mind, but I think we'll wait to
(09:00):
see how all that plays out.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Oh.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Absolutely, it is shocking still to lose such a great
man in our community. God bless you. Thanks Dave. I
appreciate you joining me today.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
All right, good to talk to you, Tony. Thanks for
what you're doing.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
All right, you two, it's a Dave Stone joining us
here from Southeast Christian Church. We've got more coming up
to wrap up the show here on Kentucky and This
Morning News and News Radio Aporty w h A.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
S
Yesterday we lost a hero in life. Junior Bridgman, at
age seventy one, died of a heart attack after he
was trying to help others raise money for the Boy
Scouts here in Louisville, Kentucky. I'm privileged to have a
dear friend that was a dear friend of Junior Bridgeman's,
(00:20):
Dave Stone, former senior pastor of Southeast Christian Church. And Dave,
good morning to you. I appreciate your time this morning.
Tell us about the Junior Bridgeman that you knew.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Well. Thanks, Thanks, Tony. I just had such love and
respect for him.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
I first met him when I came to Louisville back
in nineteen eighty nine, and he gave me a warm welcome.
It was within a few months that would struck up
a friendship. And as you well know, he did not
enjoy speaking.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
He didn't enjoy talking.
Speaker 3 (00:57):
He would agree to it reluctantly, even though he was
incredible at it.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
And I had him.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
I was leading the college age group at that time,
and I talked him somehow into sharing his testimony and
just talking with one hundred and fifty college age kids,
and that's what he did, and he held them spell bound,
and that was the.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Start of a great friendship.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
And just never seen a guy that was such a
class act, a picture of humility, steady, consistent, even keel.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
He was a servant in every sense of the word
and loved the Lord, and he.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Was not ashamed to tell people that he was a
man of faith and a great family man.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
To me, I mean, I remember one I used to
be on the board of Boys and Girls Haven, and
he really challenged the people when we were doing raising
some money to really, you know, give more. He really
believed in a lot of these different kinds of charities,
(02:10):
some that will never know about even but I remember
also not only did he help us raise money, but
he did more than that. He gave more obviously than
anybody else. He was a real giver of the gifts
that God gave him.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Yeah, he was always known as a generous man.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
But you know, it's important, I think for everybody to
realize he was like that all the way throughout his life.
I mean, he was one of those guys that just
constantly was just trying to reach out to people, and
he was constantly being hit up for money as well. Yeah,
and yet it was just a picture of who he
was and what he did. I think back to the
(02:55):
fact that you know, we keep hearing the term billionaire
at the last the last few hours since his passing,
and yet that is the last way he would ever
want to be known. I remember when Forbes magazine came
out with him on the cover last month and I
told Beth, I said, oh, I said.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
No, one hates that anymore than.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Junior Bridgement, because I mean, I think every single person
who knows him, they saw that and you kind of cringed.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
It was like, Oh, that's so cool, there's Junior.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
But the other side of it was, oh, that's that's
not what he wants to be known for. And I'm
telling you, I think he just gave and gave away
so much. He did so much for the community in
so many different ways. He introduced me to the West
End School. There are countless projects that he was involved in,
(03:50):
and I.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Know that he was generous in so many different ways.
Speaker 3 (03:53):
And that's the way he lived, even when he had
modest means.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
That's how he lived.
Speaker 1 (03:59):
He was a boots on the ground kind of guy.
And what I mean by that is financial literacy. He
learned financial literacy all by himself, and I hope this
new bill if it passes with the legislature. I think
it's a great bill of getting kids to learn financial
literacy as a core curriculum by the time they're a
(04:22):
junior or senior. I think it could help a lot
of people because he was at fundamentally he helped a
lot of people. I was watching Charles Barkley, I was
watching Shack and others last night bragging about how he
helped them with their finances, and both of them indicated
that they wish that Junior Bridgeman would be able to
(04:43):
go and talk to young players like it should be
not optional for young guys that are going into the
NBA to learn how to to, you know, work with finances.
And he would have been a great Oh. He did
do it with some right, he.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Did it with basketball teams, but he also did it
for some teams outside of basketball because there was a
stretch where he had such notoriety as the NBA player representative,
the different teams would have him come in and do that.
And of course those kids were making tons more money more.
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Than than Junior ever did. But that that also reveals
his humility and his servant's heart.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
You know, I remember years ago Joe Elliott when he
had his show on w HS in the evening. One
time somebody called and they were talking about athletes and
how they they don't do anything after they after they
leave college or after they leave professional sports. And this
guy said, you know what he said the other other
day was going through a Windy's and lo and behold,
(05:46):
I look up and I'm going through the drive through
and Junior Bridgeman's the guy who who hands me my Windy's.
And I thought, man a life. If ever, I thought
there was a guy that was going to make something
of his life. And yet there he is working working
at Wendy's. And Joe Elliots said, sir, he owns all
of the Wendy's in Chicago, Milwaukee, and in Louisville, and
(06:09):
he does that because he likes to be right there
with his workers.
Speaker 2 (06:14):
So did they realize that he's no different than they all?
Speaker 1 (06:17):
He was talking, Yeah, he was talking about a story.
When he started with the five Wendy's, he was in
basically an African American community he acknowledges, and he said,
you know, there were times somebody might be caught speeding
or something like that, and he would bail them out
and he said, that's he said, you've got to you've
got to lead. He would bail somebody out and they'd
(06:40):
come back, you know, and work for him and those
kinds of things, and that's what developed his loyalty. It's
that kind of servant hood that you're talking about. When
good you know, when companies do things the right way,
then people want to follow that and people will. It
looks like what we seen with Chick fil A. You know,
they've they've been really good at service and that kind
(07:00):
of thing. And that's exactly probably the model that Junior
Bridgeman did before anybody, it seems like in the restaurant industry.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Yeah, I think you're right. And even though it's sad.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
His loss and we mourn his loss, he was a
committed Christian and in the big scheme of things, in
the eternal scheme of things, and I know his family.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
Feels this way, he's going on to get his reward.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
There's a verse in the Bible that says we do
not grieve as those who have no hope. And even
though we feel like his life was cut short and
we're going to miss his impact on our community. We
know where he is, we know why he's there. He
put his trust in Christ and he was always telling
(07:51):
others about his love for Jesus. I remember if you
were at Dinny Crumb's funeral, but he.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Basically preached it.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Junior preached a powerful sermon when he was up talking
for about five minutes. And he's a guy who always
has kept his feet on the ground and has never
accepted the praise.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
He's always quick to pass it on to others.
Speaker 3 (08:14):
And in any conversation, he always made you the focal
point and turned the conversation in your direction. And he
didn't take didn't take any of the accolades.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
He was one of those guys that made you feel
like you were the only person in the room. And
that's a great talent, you know, Dave. I'm not trying
to pry, but do we know when services are going
to be yet?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Not? Not yet?
Speaker 3 (08:38):
And I think they're they're still figuring those things out.
You know, when it's it's sudden and abrupt like this,
it's so different than when when you see see it coming, uh,
you know, over the course of a few days. And
I don't think that's been finalized yet, but I've got
some assumptions in mind, but I think we'll wait to
(09:00):
see how all that plays out.
Speaker 2 (09:02):
Oh.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Absolutely, it is shocking still to lose such a great
man in our community. God bless you. Thanks Dave. I
appreciate you joining me today.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
All right, good to talk to you, Tony. Thanks for
what you're doing.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
All right, you two, it's a Dave Stone joining us
here from Southeast Christian Church. We've got more coming up
to wrap up the show here on Kentucky and This
Morning News and News Radio Aporty w h A.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
S
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