BREVARD, Fla. — A pioneer of the revitalization of downtown San Angelo has died.
Luther Rodney "Rod" Bridgman, 78, of Titusville, Florida, died July 13, after a brief illness.
According to an online obituary, Bridgman and his wife, Dennise, retired in San Angelo in 1999, where his dream of creating a Blues venue evolved into something much larger.
Rod spearheaded the creation of the San Angelo Blues Society, the annual Simply Texas Blues Festival, and the unexpected Blues movement in West Texas. He was instrumental in bringing about the revitalization of downtown San Angelo and was a key figure in its growth through the years.
He and Dennise bought an Antebellum style building at 204 S. Oakes St. in February 1999, when that area of downtown San Angelo was 80% unoccupied. They couple spent 10 years restoring the formerly condemned building into a boutique hotel and music venue – Sealy Flats Diner & Blues Inn. He was known for bringing a host of local visual artists and musicians together and regularly featured award-winning state and national Blues acts at Sealy Flats.
The Bridgmans moved to Titusville, Florida, in 2015, to be closer to family.
A life celebration is being planned for San Angelo soon, the online obituary said.
