Jimmy dressed as John Liberty in the 1976 Bicentennial Parade in Atlanta
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Jimmy Bridges
1919-2005
James Albert "Jimmy" Bridges was born on October 4, 1919 in Dawson, Georgia. He was the oldest son of a farmer and schoolteacher. After graduating from Campbell High School in Fairburn, he attended the University of Georgia, graduating with an AB degree in journalism. While at Georgia he was on the staff of the student newspaper and worked at WGAU. Bridges served as a summer intern at his future place of employment, WSB.
In 1940, Jimmy joined WSB as a staff announcer and continuity editor. In 1942, his radio career was put on hold as he entered the Army Air Corp pilot training program. After rising to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and flight instructor, he returned to WSB Radio at the end of World War II. In 1946, he provided NBC with live coverage of the Winecoff Hotel fire.
Bridges moved over to WSB TV (then channel 8) in 1948 and gave Atlanta' first television newscast. He returned to radio in 1953, as news editor and on air personality. In 1958, Jimmy left programming to become an account executive and in 1973 was promoted to Manager of Sales Operations. After retiring and doing voiceover from his home studio, Bridges rejoined WSB radio as business news reporter; his last broadcast was on December 27, 1982.
Jimmy Bridges was a member of Sigma Delta Chi, the Atlanta Advertising Club, and served as President of the Atlanta Broadcast Executive Club. He was also a regular contributor to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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Photos courtesy of Joanne Cooper for exclusive use by the Georgia Radio Hall of Fame
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