The annual awards from the Greensboro newspaper recognize the achievements of older residents in Guilford County.
Eddie Bridges ’57 has been recognized by the Greensboro News & Record with one of this year’s “7 Over Seventy” awards due to his work as a leading advocate for the great outdoors.
“I am highly honored.” Bridges told the newspaper. “I can’t imagine being one of seven in Guilford County.”
Ever since he was young, Eddie Bridges has devoted himself to his passions. These interests included a keen love for the outdoors, athletic events, and making a difference in the world.
Bridges, 87, who was raised in Morganton, N.C, grew up fishing with his father. When he was not on the water, he spent the rest of his time playing football and running track and field.
Bridges’ dedication and hard work paid off, as he was awarded a full athletic scholarship to Elon in 1953. He continued to devote his efforts to athletics at Elon, and credits much of his athletic success to football coach Sid Varney.
“I found out some things I never knew about myself,” Bridges, who broke three school records at his first track meet, told the News & Record.
Bridges continued to pursue his love for athletics in the classroom. His original intentions were to teach physical education and coach future generations of athletes. However, after receiving a degree in biology, Bridges and a friend opened up a sporting goods store. Through his time at the store, Bridges’ passion for wildlife reemerged, and he gained a new interest in conservation efforts.
In 1976, Bridges became a member of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, on which he served two terms. His most notable accomplishment was encouraging his fellow commission members into issuing lifetime fishing and hunting licenses. Those fees have since raised over $100 million for the nonprofit N.C. Wildlife Endowment Fund, envisioned and created by Bridges for the state in 1981.
Since then, Bridges’ conservation and environmental efforts have not gone unnoticed. In 2003, he was awarded with the Elon University Distinguished Alumnus of the Year. The Alumni Association recognized his initiatives and programs in support of wildlife conservation. Bridges also served on Elon’s Athletic Foundation from 2001 through 2003.
Additionally, Bridges was awarded with the Budweiser Conservation Award in 2004, and the Field and Stream Hero Conservation of the Year Award in 2012. In 2019, Bridges was inducted into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame, after over five decades of conservation contributions in his home state.
“The lord has blessed me in a number of ways,” Bridges told the News & Record. “Divine order has taken care of a lot of stuff for me.”
The Greensboro News and Record selected Bridges for his lasting influence on North Carolina’s wildlife. Bridges has always wanted to make the world a better place, and his contributions to environmental protection have done just that.