Bradley is a posthumous selection to the Norwich Athletic Hall of Fame after passing away from a brief illness this past April. He was standout offensive and defensive lineman on the football team, earning 1962 WCAX-TV Vermont All-State Team honors as a senior. Bob Lincoln and fellow Class of 2018 Hall of Fame inductee Al Pettingill also earned All-State recognition alongside Bradley in 1962.
“We’re very thankful to Norwich University for inducting our father into the Athletic Hall of Fame,” said his son, Kurt Bradley. “He was always proud of Norwich and the life-long friendships he created there on the field and in the classroom.”
Fellow classmates and teammates called Bradley “the rock” of the team playing in the trenches on the offensive and defensive line. He never missed a game and played most of the minutes, while helping lead Norwich to four straight victories over the Coast Guard Academy in the annual “Battle of the Mug” trophy game.
During his sophomore season, Norwich shutout previously undefeated and the No. 1-ranked small school team in New England Middlebury College 26-0 in one of the biggest wins in program history.
He also was a member of the track and field team, setting a then school-record in the shot put. He earned first place in the Vermont State Meet for shot put and hammer throw and was also voted a co-captain by his teammates.
After graduating with an engineering degree, Bradley worked for Sylvania Electronics and Continental Can. He was the owner of Derry’s oldest driving school, Harry’s Driving School, and worked tirelessly for driver education and safety in conjunction with the New Hampshire Driver Education Teachers Association. In retirement, Bradley continued his passion for driving as a fleet delivery driver for Merchant’s Fleet Management in Hookset, N.H.
In his community, he participated in the Sons of the American Legion. He served as a scout for the Windsor High School football team and was a member of the organizing group for the Stevens High School track team in Claremont, N.H. He was also a charter member of the Community Alliance for teen safety in Derry, N.H.
Bradley and his wife Barbara are both deceased. They had two sons Keith and Kurt. Keith lives in Derry, N.H. and Kurt is in Seattle, Wash.
