Former Skagit Valley College (SVC) President Dr. James “Jim” Ford, 89, passed away Friday, May 26 at his home in Anacortes. The widely respected educator served in various roles at SVC over a 41-year period, with roots as a biology teacher. A public memorial service is scheduled July 21 at SVC. Dr. Ford (center) is pictured here at the 2009 groundbreaking ceremony of the Northwest Career & Technical Center in downtown Anacortes. It is fitting that Dr. Ford is pictured here in a baseball cap. He was a graduate of Lower Columbia College, where he was a four sport athlete. He received an advanced degree from Western Washington University and his Doctorate in Cell Biology at Oregon State University. Ford taught and coached in the Bellevue School District prior to beginning his teaching career at Skagit Valley in 1954, where he coached baseball and basketball. In 1992 he was inducted into the Northwest Athletic Conference Hall of Fame.