Dawne Gee, Junior Bridgeman honored with 2023 Keepers of the Dream Freedom Award

WAVE-TV anchor Dawne Gee and former University of Louisville basketball player and entrepreneur Ulysses "Junior" Bridgeman were honored as the 2023 Keepers of the Dream Freedom Award recipients during the annual ceremony Sunday evening.

The Freedom Award is given to Louisville residents of Derby City who best exemplify the ideals of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision, like inclusion, respect and equality. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Gee and Bridgeman embodied all those qualities and more during the ceremony, which took place in Whitney Hall at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Louisville.

Gee, an Emmy award-winning journalist with a career in both television and radio spanning 30 years, hosts her own news segment called WAVE Country, which profiles folks making a difference in the community.

Words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s messages were present in performances at the ceremony, and Gee echoed the reverend's messages of love with her own speech about acting as her "brother's keeper."

"No one is born with hatred in their heart," Gee said. "That is taught. If hatred is taught, love can be taught."

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Gee is active in the community, working as an advocate for illnesses by serving on the Brain Injury Association of Kentucky Board, as well as nonprofits throughout the city. She also won the Lyman T. Johnson Distinguished Leadership Award in 2009 and was honored by the Chestnut Street YMCA Black Achievers Program as the Adult Achiever of the Year in 2019. The Center for Women and Children recognized Gee as a "Woman of Distinction" in 2015, celebrating her "indelible mark" on Louisville.

Gee encouraged the audience to learn from one another as well.

"There is room for everyone at the table," she said. "At the table of brotherhood, there is room. Invite somebody that's having a hard time. Invite somebody that doesn't look like you. Scoot over and let them sit next to you. Give up your seat."

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Bridgeman, the entrepreneur, said it was "an honor to be included in the list of people who have received this award before. These are people who have done great things for Louisville, for the state and for our country."

The entrepreneur said his accomplishments were because of the people who paved the way for him.

"Only thing that I did was stood on the shoulders of those who came before me, and as I stood on the shoulders, I grew a little bit taller and reached a little bit higher," he said. "And so, my goal is to help somebody stand on my shoulders."

Bridgeman, an All-American player at the University of Louisville from 1974 to 1975, went on to play in the NBA for 12 years after being chosen as a first-round pick in the 1975 NBA Draft, most famously with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Even after retiring from the court in 1987, Bridgeman didn't stop hustling. He founded Manna Inc., a restaurant affiliate company, which allowed him to acquire hundreds of businesses, including franchises at Wendy's, Chili's and Fazoli's. He also partnered with Coca-Cola to open the Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company. Bridgeman is also the current owner of Ebony and Jet magazines, which he acquired in 2020.

The businessman also serves on the board of trustees at the West End School, which announced an expansion to create a new girls' school in September.

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Past Freedom Award winners include folks like Kevin Cosby, who has served as the pastor of St. Stephen Baptist Church for over 40 years, Beverly Watts, former executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights and Ed Hamilton, a classically trained sculptor with a 40-year career.

Contact reporter Rae Johnson at RNJohnson@gannett.com. Follow them on Twitter at @RaeJ_33.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Dawne Gee, Junior Bridgeman receive Keepers of the Dream Freedom Award