Mayor Jim Ridenour is a life long resident of Modesto. He was born at Robertson Hospital in Modesto, attended local schools, graduating from Downey High School in 1958.

After completing basic training for the Army National Guard, Jim returned to Modesto and became involved full time in the ambulance industry, an industry he worked in for over four decades, retiring last July.

Mayor Ridenour was the first paramedic certified in Santa Barbara County in 1974, where he resided for a short period while starting-up a new division of his company’s ambulance service. He has also served as a reserve deputy sheriff in both Stanislaus and Santa Barbara County’s.

At the time of his retirement, Mayor Ridenour was the top operations executive for Central Valley Operations of American Medical Response. He served five terms as Chairman of the California Ambulance Association, and received many awards and honors from the association and state legislators.

Mayor Ridenour was elected December 9, 2003 and sworn-in on December 23, 2003.

Mayor Ridenour and his wife Renee enjoy living in Modesto with their 3 children, numerous grandchildren, and the entire Ridenour clan.