SPRINGFIELD, MASS. - The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has bestowed a significant honor to four long-serving Board members in recognition of their extraordinary service and commitment to the Hall of Fame with the designation of ‘Life Trustee.’ Being named a ‘Life Trustee’ is the highest honor a Board member can receive, reflecting a long-term and passionate commitment to the organization. The newly elected Life Trustees are:
David A. Beckerman
The founder and former CEO of the prolific Starter Corporation, which grew to be a leader in the licensed sports apparel industry. David has served in a Board capacity at the Hall of Fame for over 30 years, focusing on strategic planning and marketing efforts. In addition to a successful business career, Beckerman also had a successful basketball coaching career at the prep school level, garnering over 500 wins.
Ulysses ‘Junior’ Bridgeman
Bridgeman’s story didn't end with his remarkable 12-year NBA career, primarily spent with the Milwaukee Bucks, where his No. 2 jersey was retired in 1988. After playing for both the Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers, he transitioned into business, becoming one of the most successful former NBA players by building ventures in fast food and consumer products. He served the Hall of Fame for 15 years, with eight of those years as Vice Chairman of the Board.
Mannie Jackson
Jackson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2017 as a Contributor, recognizing both his play as a Harlem Globetrotter and the subsequent acquisition and revitalization of the Globetrotters in the late 1990s, saving one of America’s iconic brands. Jackson served as Chairman of the Board at the Hall of Fame from 2007-2009 and served a total of over 30 years in a Board capacity.
Nancy Lieberman
Known to many as ‘Lady Magic,’ Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman has been a tireless advocate for women’s basketball at the Hall of Fame and throughout the game. A breakthrough player at all levels—high school, college, pro, and Olympic—Lieberman has a namesake annual collegiate award given by the Hall of Fame, the coveted Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year Award.
“It is such an honor to recognize some of the truly great people in basketball who have committed countless years to the Hall to ensure appropriate recognition of the game’s best,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Hall of Fame Board. “Being recognized as a Life Trustee is yet another feather in the cap of these individuals who have had, like me, a long association with the game and a deep desire to give back to the game. Their service is very much appreciated.”
NAISMITH BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME LIFE TRUSTEES
Val Ackerman
David A. Beckerman
Junior Bridgeman
John W. Bunn*
Jody Conradt
Robert Cousy
Mike Daly*
George Dickerman*
Wayne Embry
William Foster*
Dave Gavitt*
Curt Gowdy*
Russ Granik
Jim Host
Mannie Jackson
Betty Jaynes*
Tom Jernstedt*
Robert Kurland*
Nancy Lieberman
Joe LoBello*
George Raveling
*Deceased
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches, and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 450 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com, follow @hoophall, or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.