Hal Bridges

Hal Bridges, Professor Emeritus of History of the University of California, Riverside and resident of Cottonwood and Sedona, died peacefully from pneumonia, March 8, 2010, at the age of 91. He was the son of Harold Bridges, the editor and publisher of the Luling Signal, in Luling, Texas, and Lyda Lois King. After graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in journalism, he left the states for five years to serve in World War II as a finance officer, earning the rank of Major. Dr. Bridges received his Ph.D. from Columbia University and is the author of three acclaimed scholarly books, Iron Millionaire: The Life of Charlemagne Tower, Lee\u0027s Maverick General: Daniel Harvey Hill, and American Mysticism: From William James to Zen. Additionally, he has written countless articles and reviews dealing with the Civil War for the New York Times Book Review, the American Historical Review, and the Saturday Review. Frank Vandiver, a leading Civil War writer and author of Mighty Stonewall and Jubal\u0027s Raid wrote of Dr. Bridges: "This is one of the most brilliant in the field and a man who writes with great clarity and charm." On his ninetieth birthday, he published his first novel, Lincoln and the Single Eye: A Tale of Mysticism, the Presidency, Love and Murder in Wartime Washington, a book he penned in hopes of inspiring others toward his lifelong search for mystical truth. Hal Bridges is survived by a sister, Marion Sorenson of Illinois; wife Alice; two daughters, Lois, a Publisher with Scholastic, and Stephanie, a musician and healer; and three grandchildren: Aislinn, a medical student at the University of CA., Irvine-School of Medicine; Erin, who just earned a scholarship to Stanford University\u0027s Masters of Science Education; and Brennan, who is finishing his undergraduate degree at the University of CA., Davis, exploring his passion for solar energy. Dr. Bridges wrote and spoke often in defense of human rights; donations in his memory may be made to Amnesty International. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com