Bristow, an Irmo resident, first met the then-future hall-of-famer in 1980 when she was student-athlete at Michigan State University. Johnson had already graduated after a record-setting career for the Spartans, but a chance meeting at an East Lansing pub laid the foundation of an enduring friendship, one that would be cultivated through Johnson’s frequent visits home in the years that followed.
“He was the hometown hero and he came home often,” Bristow said. “He was very accessible. Lansing was his hometown … you could go anywhere and see him. He was so magnetic … everyone just wanted to be with him … I got really close to his family.”
More recently, Bristow saw Johnson during his visit to Eastover. The former NBA great was in town to dedicate a $250,000 media center and a gym at Webber Elementary School and quickly pulled Bristow on stage, their first meeting in 10 years. read more…
