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John Dixon Bridgers II, 84, a resident of Albuquerque, NM, died Friday, November 24, 2006 of congestive heart failure. He is survived by his two sons; John Dixon Bridgers III and wife, Anne of Jacksonville, FL and Donald Hamilton Bridgers and wife, Janet of Albuquerque; six grandchildren, Jenny, Penny and Missy of Waco, TX, Blake, Ashley, Leslie, and Lucy of Jacksonville, FL, and Daniel and Aaron of Albuquerque, NM; several great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives and friends. John was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Young Bridgers; daughter, Cindy Stewart; and brothers, Frank Bridgers and Bill Bridgers. He was born on January 13, 1922 in Birmingham; AL. John was a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Business Administration. His first coaching job was during the Korean Conflict with the 1st Artilliary. He coached at University of the South in Sewanee, TN, at John Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, and then for the Baltimore Colts as a defensive line coach, during the first NFL playoff in 1958 where the Colts won in overtime. John later coached and was athletic director at Baylor University in Waco, TX until 1968. In 1969 he was hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an offensive backfield coach during Chuck Knoll's first year. He went to the University of South Carolina in 1970 as offensive coordinator and then to Florida State University, as athletic director, in 1974. There he hired Bobby Bowden as head football coach who later won a NCAA National Championship. John moved to the University of New Mexico, as Athletic Director in 1979, when the Lobogate scandal was breaking and remained for eight years. In 1991 he was inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1999, and into the Florida State University Hall of Fame. John was a loving father and grandfather, devoted husband, and a mentor to his many football players. He maintained his many friendships as an avid golfer. Services will be held Wednesday, November 29, 2006, 10:00 a.m., at The Cathedral Church of St. John., 318 Silver SW. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE with military honors. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made in John's name to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, 6311 Driscoll Ave. NE, 87109. French Mortuary 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE (505) 823-9400
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