Greg Bridgeman, vice president and general manager of Specialty Mfg. Co., passed away on Oct. 16 after a brief illness.

Bridgeman had spent the past 14 years with Specialty, the Pineville, N.C.-based manufacturer of safety products for both the transit and school bus industries.

"Greg's career was characterized by a lot of hard work, a lot of innovation and a great deal of integrity," said John Ellison, president of Specialty Mfg. "Greg was also integrally important in helping our customers understand why these innovations would help them, and they trusted his judgment."

During his tenure, Bridgeman oversaw the development of key bus products, including roof hatches, lighting systems and rubber flooring. He served on the board of directors of Invertec, a United Kingdom-based manufacturer of interior lighting systems for transit buses that was acquired by Specialty.

Bridgeman was a respected leader in the bus industry and a longtime member of the American Public Transportation Association. He also helped to form the Supplier Council of the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services. He was also a member of the National Association for Pupil Transportation and the National School Transportation Association.

"He was a great friend to many people who worked in the pupil transportation industry," said Bob Whitehouse, president of IC Corp., a school bus manufacturer in Conway, Ark.

"Over the past 14 years, I, along with many others, have worked hard and played hard with Greg," Whitehouse said. "I will miss him greatly."

Bridgeman, who is survived by his wife Janice and two daughters, Abby and Vanessa, was born in Gaston County, N.C., and served in the U.S. Army in Germany. He was a member of the Cramer Mountain Men's Golf Association and Christ United Methodist Church in Gastonia, N.C.

The family asks that any gifts or memorials be sent to Christ United Methodist Church, 3415 Union Rd., Gastonia, N.C. 28056.