CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Mountain State Athletic Conference Commissioner Fred Aldridge died on Friday at the age of 78.
It was very sudden, George Washington High School Athletic Director Shawn Wheeler said.
“We had an MSAC meeting yesterday (Thursday) and everything seemed fine. We got the news this morning from his wife Pat that he had passed suddenly,” Wheeler said.
Aldridge was a longtime school administrator and coach. He led George Washington to a AAA boy’s basketball title in 1971. He spent time as principal at Ravenswood High School, served on various state Secondary School Activities Commission committees along with other education career-related accomplishments.
His tenure as the MSAC commissioner began in September of 1997.
“What shoes to fill. It’s going to be difficult for us to find a replacement and hard for whoever takes his spot,” he said.
Aldridge was a true sports fan and often asked Wheeler if had seen a particular game the night before.
“He lived it. He breathed it,” Wheeler said. “He was just a great man, a family man. He touched everybody’s life that he came in contact with in a positive way.”