Dr. James “Jim” Aldredge, professor emeritus in the Department of Social Work Education, passed away on Oct. 17 in Fresno at the age of 86. He is remembered as a trailblazer, community leader and champion of education who was deeply committed to public service.

According to his family, Aldredge lived to serve with integrity and had a deep desire to make a difference in the community he loved — particularly in southwest Fresno, where he was raised.

Aldredge earned an associate’s degree from Fresno City College, followed by a bachelor’s degree in recreation administration in 1964 and a master’s degree in public administration in 1977, both from Fresno State. He did all this while working full-time for the City of Fresno. He later obtained a master’s degree and doctorate degree in organizational development from USC, and also studied at Oxford University.

Early on, Aldredge combined his love of service and education, working as the assistant city manager for the City of Fresno, while also teaching part-time at Fresno City College; University of California, San Francisco; and Fresno State. He eventually moved up the ranks to become the city manager of Fresno in 1985 — marking a historic turn as Fresno’s first Black city manager. He served in this capacity until retiring in 1989.

After his retirement from the City of Fresno, Aldredge returned to his educational roots and went on to serve in a variety of leadership positions with Fresno Unified School District, Fresno Pacific University and Fresno State. His passion for academia excelled at Fresno State, where he began teaching full-time in the Department of Social Work Education. For over a decade, he shaped the minds of future leaders, his family said, and also became a mentor to many faculty.

"Dr. Aldridge played a formative role in my early career at Fresno State. I chose him as my mentor because of his deep commitment to community work and the way he wove that passion into his teaching. In the Department of Social Work Education, he stood above the divisions — always steady, fair and kind. His wisdom, humor and love of golf reminded us all that grace and good spirit belong as much in our academic halls as in life.”
— Dr. Mitzi Lowe, professor, Department of Social Work Education

Aldredge’s impact reached far beyond the classroom, where he also served on the President’s Advisory Committee at Fresno State, helping bridge civic engagement, education and economic development in the region. He retired from Fresno State in 2008, but left a lasting impression for students and colleagues alike.

His lifetime of work in the Fresno community and at Fresno State earned him the Top Dog Alumni Award for the College of Health and Human Services in 1996.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 7 at the Westside Church of God, 1424 W. California Ave., Fresno. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the James E. Aldridge Foundation. Share remembrances and read more about Aldredge’s legacy in his obituary and online.