Dec. 8, 1978, was "Lyle Bradley Day" in Salt Lake City.
The mayor signed a proclamation; the city threw a party. His hockey jersey - No. 11 - became the first in Salt Lake Golden Eagle history to be retired.But the hockey standout had little reason to celebrate. His retirement came too abruptly - even at the age of 35. The St. Louis Blues, the Golden Eagles' NHL parent team, hadn't renewed his contract that season.
"Not too many people know that," he said. "My career was winding down; there is no question about that. Still, it was a little disheartening."
Just two weeks after his retirement, Bradley was wooed by the Dallas Blackhawks franchise - one of the Golden Eagles' foes in the Central Hockey League. Money was no option.
"But I elected not to go. I knew I was at the end of my career. I was just uncomfortable going with Dallas after what people had done for me here. They hung my jersey in the Salt Palace. Had I come back in a Dallas uniform, they might have hung me, too."
But Bradley found he was prepared to do little else. Despite a degree in business administration, the Saskatchewan, Canada, native hadn't worked off the ice for 13 years.
He sold sporting goods, then real estate. Then he accepted the post of coach-general manager with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League. But Utah had become his family's home; he wanted to be here with them.
Bradley, 47, now works for Salt Lake paint contractor; he's also putting together a hockey stick manufacturing business with a former teammate.
"Luckily I come from the background of a farm kid. I have always had a good work ethic - maybe not the smartest work ethic - but I have always worked hard and have done what ever I needed to do. I made money and ended up with no money, so if I have to go out and be a laborer, I don't have a problem doing that to take care of my family."
- JoAnn Jacobsen-Wells