James F. McElrath Sr., longtime Jamestown High School principal and former at-large City Council member, passed away on Friday, July 25 at the age of 89. McElrath served on the City Council from 2000 to 2007 and was noted during the reading of the mayor’s message section of Monday’s voting session to have been a dedicated member of the Finance Committee throughout his tenure, serving as chair in 2004 and 2005.

“His contributions to Jamestown extended far beyond these chambers,” City Clerk Jennifer John read from the mayor’s message. “A beloved educator, coach and principal, at Jamestown High School, Jim believed deeply in the power of relationships and community. He remembered students by name and graduation year alike, underscoring his heartfelt commitment to every student.”

John continued reading, saying that McElrath understood that strong connections with students, staff and neighbors was the foundation of a healthy community. The Jamestown High School gym was named in his honor, reflecting on his legacy, and even after retirement McElrath was known to give back to the community, serving on both the school board and the council.

The reading of the message was followed by a moment of silence in McElrath’s honor. Council President Tony Dolce said on a personal note he had the privilege of knowing McElrath as his principal in high school in 1976, which was McElrath’s first year as principal.

James McElrath

“I later got to work for him as a young teacher; he hired me in 1989 and 1990 to come back to the high school and teach,” Dolce said. “I had the pleasure of working with him for several years in the early 1990s and then again as a colleague here on the City Council.”

Dolce said he knew McElrath as a friend, mentor and North Side neighbor down the street, adding that he was respected and loved by his former students, reiterating again his ability to remember everyone’s names and graduation years.

“He was very well respected by his students and his colleagues and the thousands and thousands of people throughout the community who called him ‘Mac’ and he was a tremendous asset to our community,” Dolce said.

Dolce also noted that in McElrath’s obituary it was said that he valued the importance of bipartisan work. He said this is fitting for the council along with having McElrath be both a mentor to him along with Mayor Kim Ecklund in the political along with personal and educational realm, saying that he always approached things with fairness. Dolce reiterated that McElrath was a “tremendous asset” to the community, and that thoughts and prayers from the council go out to his family.

The Jamestown Public Schools District also honored McElrath on Monday with a moment of silence during its board meeting. McElrath served the district for 26 years, most notably spending 18 years leading JHS prior to his retirement in 1994.

James F. McElrath is pictured at the dedication of the Jamestown High School gymnasium in his honor in December 1994. P-J file photo

“Anyone who chooses to spend their career in education aspires to leave the type of legacy that Mr. McElrath left on the Jamestown community,” said JPS Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker. “His service as an educator, administrator, and school board member reflected a lifelong commitment to students, families, and the betterment of our schools. The naming of the JHS ‘new gym’ in his honor in 1994 is a testament to the impact that he made. We are deeply saddened by his passing and our hearts are with his family and loved ones.”

The JPS Board of Education held a moment of silence in honor of McElrath prior to the July 28 meeting.

McElrath arrived in Chautauqua County in 1957, spending 10 years at Panama Central School before becoming an English teacher at Washington Junior High School. After spending a year as an administrator at Cassadaga Valley Central School, he returned to JPS in 1970 as principal of Jefferson Junior High School. He became the principal of Jamestown High School in 1976.

In his 18 years as the building’s leader, McElrath helped bolster the school’s academic, athletics, and arts programs. During his tenure, he helped the high school earn accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, supported the national and world travels of the JHS Marching Band and A Cappella Choir programs, worked with former JHS athletic director Komo Tane to bring Jamestown into the Erie County Interscholastic Conference, collaborated with the Chautauqua Striders to develop Strider Field, and assisted in the development of the “new gym” in 1986.

Upon his retirement in 1994, a student-led effort helped rename the building “McElrath Gymnasium.” Following his retirement, he spent three years as a member of the Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education and eight years as an at-large member of the Jamestown City Council.

In 2023, McElrath returned to Strider Field for a special ceremony with members of the JHS Class of 1980, which unveiled two new benches in honor of McElrath and his late wife Marianne, who served as the clinic director for Chautauqua County Mental Health.

“It is so nice to be here with you,” McElrath told the group. “I am honored and humbled at the same time. … I feel as if I could still be your principal. It was 43 years ago that I spoke to you at graduation at Chautauqua, and I said to you: you will be successful. And every one of you has been successful. I remember you very well as evidenced by tonight and what’s more important: you remember me by this. I thank you.”