James Sterling Ridge, Sr.
General Information
- Sterling Ridge, J. Sterling Ridge
- Male
- October 29, 1936
- Alexandria, Rapides Parish, LA, USA
- April 18, 2012
- Glendale, Maricopa, AZ, USA
Biographical Information
EDUCATION: Glendale High School, 1955; AA, Phoenix College, 1957; BA, Arizona State University (then Arizona State College), 1959
"Former Glendale Mayor Sterling Ridge dies." glendalestar.com, April 20, 2012:
...He is credited, with his wife, Barbara, with spearheading the successful effort to establish Arizona State University West....
As Mayor, Ridge launched the first paramedic and Dial-a-Ride programs in Arizona, and initiated numerous cooperative agreements with surrounding communities regarding police and fire protection, sewer construction, and municipal water. He also acquired property in downtown Glendale for the current city hall, and an 80-acre turn-of-the-century-homestead farther north on 59th Avenue that is now the site of the city’s Main Library and Sahuaro Ranch Park....
Cecilia Chan. "Ex-Glendale mayor, Arizona lawmaker Sterling Ridge dies." azcentral.com, April 23, 2012:
...Sterling Ridge spent a dozen years lobbying to bring an ASU campus to the West Valley.
Ridge, his wife, Barbara, and others on the Westside Citizens Committee for Higher Education began their efforts in 1972.
It wasn't until 1984 that their crusade paid off when the governor signed into law a bill authored by then-state Rep. Ridge to create ASU West....
Ridge was born in Louisiana but graduated from Glendale High School. He went on to Phoenix Community College and Arizona State University. He began his career as a newspaper reporter for The Arizona Republic and the defunct Phoenix Gazette. From 1960-67 he served as executive sports editor, assistant city editor, state editor and editorial writer for the newspapers....
Employment
| Occupation | Title | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Education/Library | director of community relations, Arizona State University West | |
| Media/Arts/Design | copy boy to editorial writer and editor, Phoenix Newspapers | 1954 - 1967 |
| Education/Library | assistant to President, Maricopa County Community College District | 1967 - 1969 |
| Health Care | public relations director, Samaritan Health Service | 1969 - 1972 |
| Lawyer/Judicial | assistant executive director, State Bar of Arizona | 1972 - 1976 |
| Government | member, Glendale City Council | 1974 - 1976 |
| Business/Financial/Office | owner, small business | 1976 - 1980 |
| Government | mayor, Glendale, Arizona | 1976 - 1980 |
| Health Care | planner, researcher, Samaritan Health Service | 1980 - 1985 |
| Media/Arts/Design | writer | 1985 |
| Real Estate/Land/Insurance | realtor | 1985 |
Arizona Legislative Service
| Session | Chamber | Party | District | City | County | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36th Legislature, 1st Regular | House | Republican | 17 - Maricopa (1983-92) (1993-2002) (2003-12) | Glendale | Maricopa | ||
| 36th Legislature, 2nd Regular | House | Republican | 17 - Maricopa (1983-92) (1993-2002) (2003-12) | Glendale | Maricopa | ||
| 37th Legislature, 1st Regular | House | Republican | 17 - Maricopa (1983-92) (1993-2002) (2003-12) | Glendale | Maricopa | ||
| 37th Legislature, 2nd Regular | House | Republican | 17 - Maricopa (1983-92) (1993-2002) (2003-12) | Glendale | Maricopa | ||
| 38th Legislature, 1st Regular | House | Republican | 17 - Maricopa (1983-92) (1993-2002) (2003-12) | Glendale | Maricopa | ||
| 38th Legislature, 2nd Regular | House | Republican | 17 - Maricopa (1983-92) (1993-2002) (2003-12) | Glendale | Maricopa |