Retirement Committee Chairman

Representative Ben Bridges was born in Madison County and graduated from Commerce High School.  After graduating in 1960 from Barber College in Gainesville, he owned and operated a barbershop in Homer for six years.  In 1966, he joined the Georgia State Patrol as a Driver’s License Examiner.  Soon afterwards he was promoted to Trooper and graduated from Georgia’s 29th Trooper School.  He patrolled in the Northeast Georgia area and served on a Statewide DUI Task Force for many years, during which he achieved Corporal ranking.

Representative Bridges was then assigned as a Staff Member for Georgia’s Lt. Governor, Zell Miller, in 1976.  He provided security and was a liaison between the LT. Governor’s office at the Capitol in Atlanta and other law enforcement offices throughout the state. He spent 9 years with that office where he attained rank as Sergeant and later Lieutenant.  During this tenure, he attended Secret Service School in Washington, D.C.  Representative Bridges was promoted to the rank of Captain as the Troop B Commander in NE Georgia in May 1985.  He managed 5 patrol stations in a 21-county area including White and Habersham Counties.  His safety articles were published monthly in over 28 newspapers and he made regular appearances on radio and TV.

In 1976, Captain Bridges received the Georgia Peace Officer Association’s “Peace Officer of the Year” award chosen by his peers from among 10,000 members.  He was credited with saving 4 lives and was awarded proclamations for heroism from the Governor’s Office, the Georgia House of Representatives and the Georgia State Senate.  He was a member of the Lavonia Jaycees and was chosen by them as “Outstanding Young Man of the Year” in 1977.  He was a charter member and vice president of the Gainesville Breakfast Optimist Club.  He was an active member of the Gainesville Rotary Club for 9 years and is an active member and past-president of the White County Rotary Club.

He also holds members in the White County Chamber of Commerce, Habersham County Chamber of Commerce, Advisory Board of the Hardman Farm Estate, National Rifle Association, Friends of Georgia State Parks, AARP, Georgia Right to Life, White County Republican Party and the Georgia Republican Party.  He has spoken to almost all of the civic clubs and to many churches and businesses located throughout NE Georgia.  He has been awarded numerous commendations and recognized as an outstanding leader from many organizations. 

Representative Bridges retired from the Georgia State Patrol after 30 years of distinguished service in September 1995.  Rather than enjoying his retirement and expanding his hobby of riding and trading horses, he felt the need to continue his life work of helping other people.  He has been State Representative since January 1997 and currently serves on Committees for Banks and Banking, Public Utilities and Telecommunications and Rules. House Speaker, Glenn Richardson, recently appointed Representative Bridges Chairman of the Retirement Committee.  The chairman often writes articles to keep his constituents informed about legislation and the legislative process.  He and his wife, Jeanie, have 5 children, 11 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild.  They live near the Habersham/White County line.  They are active members of the First Baptist Church in Helen.