Jim Ridlon, artist/athlete, has achieved fame in both these pursuits. He played in the NFL for eight years – six with the San Francisco 49ers and two with the Dallas Cowboys, being named All-Pro as a defensive safety in 1964. After retiring from pro football he returned to Syracuse University, his alma mater, to complete his graduate studies and coach the defensive backs on the football team.

Ridlon, has completed many sports-related commissions, including large assemblages for ABC Television to commemorate Monday Night Football and Wide World of Sports. He also fashioned the Outland Trophy, awarded each year to the premier college football lineman.

Jim Ridlon was named “Sport Artist of the Year” by the U.S. Sports Academy in 1989. He has a BFA and an MFA in sculpture from Syracuse University and a Doctorate (D.Hu.L.), from Cazenovia College. Ridlon has had 37 solo shows of his work including the Canton Art Institute, Ohio; the Zenith Gallery in Washington, D.C.: and the Herbert F. Johnson Museum at Cornell University. He has been included in over 100 group shows and is represented in over 500 public and private art collections including the Munson-Williams Proctor Art Institute in Utica,NY: The Julliard School of Music, NY.: ABC, NY.: and the Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, Canada.

Jim Ridlon has taught for 36 years and currently holds the distinction of “Outstanding Professor Emeritus” from the School of Art, Syracuse University.

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