CITY OF FRESNO
___________________________________________ __________________________________________ JERRY P. DYER, Honorable Mayor TYLER MAXWELL, Councilmember, District 4 ____________________________________________ __________________________________________ MIKE KARBASSI, Council President NELSON ESPARZA, Council Vice President
____________________________________________ __________________________________________ ANNALISA PEREA, Councilmember, District 1 MIGUEL ARIAS, Councilmember, District 3
____________________________________________ __________________________________________ BRANDON VANG, Councilmember, District 5 NICK RICHARDSON, Councilmember, District 6
Office of Councilmember Tyler Maxwell
Hereby Recognizes:
Dr. James “Jim” Aldredge
1939 - 2025
WHEREAS, Dr. James “Jim” Aldredge made history as the City of Fresno’s first and only Black City Manager, breaking barriers and opening doors for generations of civic leaders; and
WHEREAS, having come to Fresno at the age of four and raised in southwest Fresno, Dr. Aldredge grew into a leader grounded in faith and resilience, committed to fairness, dignity, and service to the community he loved; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from Edison High School in 1956 and briefly pursuing professional baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, Dr. Aldredge returned home following a career -ending injury and forged a new path in public service, guided by his passion for education and civic engagement; and
WHEREAS, while working full -time for the City of Fresno, he pursued higher education with extraordinary determination, earning degrees from Fresno City College and California State University, Fresno, later obtaining a master’s degree and doctorate in organizational development from the University of Southern California, and further broadening his perspective through studies at Oxford University . He went on to share his knowledge as an instructor at Fresno City College, the University of San Francisco, and California State University, Fresno; and
WHEREAS, his career in city government began in the Recreation Department and culminated in his service as Interim City Manager in 1978 and 1983, and as City Manager from 1986 to 1990, during which he guided Fresno through pivotal years with memorable steadiness and a deep sense of responsibility to the community he cherished; and
WHEREAS, as a trailblazer and advocate, Dr. Aldredge confronted systemic inequities and worked tirelessly to expand opportunity for the African American community and for all who had been historically marginalized, ensuring that the principles of justice were not merely spoken, but lived; and
WHEREAS, his lifelong commitment to service and to the Fresno communi ty earned him numerous honors and cemented his place as a respected champion for civil rights and a beacon of hope for those striving for equality; and
WHEREAS, after a lifetime devoted to the people of Fresno, Dr. James Aldredge passed away in October 2025, and the City of Fresno now pauses to honor his extraordinary legacy, courageous leadership, and his enduring impact upon the history and future of our community.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that we, Mayor Jerry P . Dyer, and the Fresno City Council, encourage all residents to honor his historic achievements, his dedication to public service, and his legacy as a pioneer, educator, and champion for justice, equity, and inclusion , and do hereby proclaim Thursday, February 26, 2026, as:
“Dr. James “Jim” Aldredge Day”
in the City of Fresno
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands and affixed the Great Seal of the City of Fresno, California, this twenty-sixth day of February of the Year Two Thousand and Twenty-Six.