Art Ridley was a member of the Milford High School Class of 1952. He attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, graduating in 1958 as a Company Commander. He served as a Commander of his unit in Vietnam, from 1958 to 1963.

He attended the Fordham Law School graduating in 1969. Since that date he has been in private practice in Milford, where he served as Chairman of the Board of the PEEC, Director of the Mellon Bank, Chairman of the Board of the Milford Community House, on the Board of Mercy Community Hospital.

He has also been Lay Preacher of the United States Methodist Church, Charter Member and Director of the Milford-Matamoras Rotary and President if the Milford Historic Preservation Trust.