The late James Ehrman played basketball for three years—lettering twice—and tennis for one year. Graduating from Bluffton in 1939 with a degree in mathematics, he went on to earn his master’s degree in education from Kent State University in 1951. He then completed additional graduate studies at Fenn College, Western Reserve University and the University of Toledo.

For 40 years he worked in educational administration in Ohio school districts. He also served at Bluffton as director of alumni affairs in 1966-67; athletics director from 1978-80; and an associate in development from 1978-84. In addition, he was a longtime volunteer in the football press box and at the men’s basketball scorer’s table. In retirement, Ehrman worked on special projects in the development office, including organizing Homecoming and May Day events.

He received many honors at Bluffton, including the Larry Jones Memorial Award for service to the athletics department and recognition as Outstanding Alumnus in 1982.

“My most outstanding memory of Bluffton sports was a time when the team was on a trip to southern Ohio,” Ehrman said. “A restaurant refused to serve one of our players because he was black, so we all got up and walked out.”

Ehrman died in 1994.