Matthew J. Ryan

Matthew J. Ryan (April 27, 1932 - March 29, 2003) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for Delaware County from 1963 to 1968 and from the 168th district from 1969 to 2003 including as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1981 to 1983 and again from 1995 to 2003.

Matthew J. Ryan
Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
January 6, 1981  January 4, 1983
Preceded byJack Seltzer
Succeeded byK. Leroy Irvis
In office
January 3, 1995  March 29, 2003
Preceded byBill Deweese
Succeeded byJohn Perzel
Republican Leader of the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
January 4, 1983  November 30, 1994
Preceded bySamuel Hayes
Succeeded byJohn Perzel
In office
January 2, 1979  November 30, 1980
Preceded byJack Seltzer
Succeeded bySamuel Hayes
Republican Whip of the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
In office
January 2, 1973  November 30, 1978
Preceded byRobert Butera
Succeeded bySamuel Hayes
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 168th district
In office
January 7, 1969  March 29, 2003
Preceded byDistrict Created
Succeeded byTom Killion
ConstituencyPart of Delaware County
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the Delaware County district
In office
January 1, 1963  November 30, 1968
Personal details
BornApril 27, 1932
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMarch 29, 2003(2003-03-29) (aged 70)[1]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Patricia Jenkins

Early life and education

Ryan was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was a 1950 graduate of Saint Joseph's Preparatory School, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He earned a degree from Villanova University in 1954 and a law degree from Villanova University School of Law in 1959.[2] Ryan served in the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1956.[3]

Career

Ryan was first elected to represent the 168th legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1962.[2] He served in the House Republican Leadership as Policy Committee Chairman from 1971 to 1972.[2] He was the Republican Whip from 1973 to 1978, with 1973–1974 spent as the Majority Whip.[2] He was elected Republican Leader in 1979–1980, with those years in the majority.[2] He served as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1981 to 1982.[2] In 1983, the Republicans became the minority and Ryan became the Republican Leader again.[2] In 1995, the Republicans regained the majority and elected Ryan Speaker of the House, a position he held until his death in 2003.[2][3]

In 2002, the political website PoliticsPA named him to the list of "Smartest Legislators," calling him "quick and sharp with his Irish wit from the Speaker's rostrum" and a "man of true wisdom."[4] In a 2002 PoliticsPA Feature story designating politicians with yearbook superlatives, he was named the "Most Popular."[5]

Legacy

The "Speaker Matthew J. Ryan Building" on the state capitol grounds

The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania is named in his honor.[6]

In 1999, the Capitol Annex of the Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg was renamed the Speaker Matthew J. Ryan Legislative Office Building.[3]

Ryan is interred at the Calvary Cemetery in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.[7]

References

  1. Cox, Harold (November 3, 2004). "Pennsylvania House of Representatives – 2003–2004" (PDF). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  2. "Matthew J. Ryan (Republican)". Official Pennsylvania House of Representatives Profile. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Archived from the original on 2000-12-06.
  3. Fuoco, Linda Wilson (2003-03-31). "Obituary: Matthew J. Ryan / Long-serving Pa. House speaker". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. PG Publishing Co.
  4. "Smartest Legislators". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2002. Archived from the original on 2002-01-15.
  5. "Keystone State Yearbook Committee". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2001. Archived from the original on 2002-08-03.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-09-09. Retrieved 2007-01-03.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Matthew J. Ryan". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 21 December 2018.
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