Born in Alexandria, Louisiana, Ridge graduated from Glendale High School in Glendale, Arizona, Phoenix Community College, and Arizona State University. He was a newspaper reporter for the Arizona Republic and the Phoenix Gazette. He served in the Arizona House of Representatives from the 17th District from 1982 to 1988 and was a Republican. Ridge also served on the Glendale City Council and was mayor. He died in Glendale.^[1][2][3]