Connecticut College Athletic Hall of Fame
Sam Bradford ’82 P’15 excelled in the sport of men’s rowing in a variety of divisions and headlined the College’s inaugural varsity sport during several of its most successful seasons. During his four years as an undergraduate student, the team captain and recipient of the program’s most valuable rower award won a silver medal in the men’s pair division at the 1982 Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championships as well as a bronze in the varsity four without coxswain division at the 1981 IRA National Championships. In addition, he earned three medals at the Dad Vail Regatta, which is the largest intercollegiate rowing event in the United States, by finishing second in the varsity heavyweight four and varsity pair with coxswain divisions in 1979 and 1980, respectively, as well as third in the varsity heavyweight eight in 1982. Independent of Conn, Bradford also won a gold medal as a member of the varsity four with coxswain at the United States Rowing Association Men’s National Championships in 1981. Following graduation, Bradford rowed for the Vesper Boat Club in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the New Haven Rowing Club, and the Pettipaug Rowing Club in Essex, Connecticut. During this time, he continued to compete and pile up accolades for high finishes at prestigious rowing events. Racing in the men’s singles division, he most notably won bronze at the U.S. Rowing Association Masters Championships as well as gold at the Audi Sprints in 1987. Bradford also dedicated time by serving as Conn’s men’s heavyweight rowing coach during the spring of 1984. A Dean’s List student who earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Bradford has been actively involved in several business, management, and community service endeavors professionally. The Connecticut resident served as President of the Connecticut Electric Equipment Company, where he worked for 25 years, and has also been the President of the Rotary Club, Director of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the Boys & Girls Club, and the Director of the United Way branch in Meriden. Bradford is currently the co-owner of The Original What’s On My Roof? contracting company, which provides roof replacement and other services for residential properties, in the state of Connecticut.
