LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The community is honoring the memory of Ulysses “Junior” Bridgeman by investing in the education of future generations. Bridgman died on March 11, 2025 and his family asked that people donate to West End School to honor him instead of sending flowers.
The West End School is a scholarship-based independent school serving boys in pre-k through 8th grade. Bridgeman was one of the founding board members, starting with only three students back in 2005. President and Head of West End School, Greg Ross said they are now 150 students strong.
“The biggest legacy you have to see is the graduates, the human capital, what’s happened because of Mr. Bridgeman and the folks around him. They chose to believe in the community, chose to believe in us,” said Ross.
Ross said Bridgeman believed in students who didn’t have the same resources or opportunities as some of their peers.
“The average reading proficiency for African American boys being under 30%, the math proficiency for boys being under 20%. And because of people like Mr. Bridgman and our and the people that he linked us with, we’re able to say that we have young men that are reading above 75%. We have math proficiency above 69%. When you look at those numbers that defy Kentucky, they defy Louisville. They defy the United States as a whole. It’s all because Mr. Bridgeman and folks that he connected with believed in us,” said Ross.
West End School students said even though they didn’t know Bridgeman personally, he has affected their lives.
“I have been learning about him, hearing about him and I’m glad that somebody who’s important to the world, as we all are important, is helping us become who we want to be and believes that we are going to be what we want to be,” said Jacobi Bryant, a student at The West End School.
“Makes me feel that, somebody that believes in who knows what my potential is and that I can be who I say I am,” said West End School Student, Amare Woods.
“It’s so nice to know that he is nice. Has him contributed for our school to get chances and opportunities for people like us of color,” said LeWalt Jackson, a student at The West End School.
Ross said Junior Bridgeman’s footprint is all over the city of Louisville and his legacy will live on in the West End school hallways.
“Because of people like Mr. Bridgeman that chose to believe in us. And we’re going to be eternally grateful for him and his family. The entire family making an effort to speak into the lives of our young men and even to the future, our young ladies is endless,” said Ross.
The West End School will open a girls’ school adding 60 more students this fall. All donations to the school will fund student scholarships.
