- Matthew J. Ryan
-
For other people named Matthew Ryan, see Matthew Ryan (disambiguation).
Matthew J. Ryan 
Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives In office
January 6, 1981 – January 4, 1983Preceded by Jack Seltzer Succeeded by Leroy Irivs In office
January 3, 1995 – March 29, 2003Preceded by Bill Deweese Succeeded by John Perzel Republican Leader of the
Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesIn office
January 4, 1983 – November 30, 1994Preceded by Samuel Hayes Succeeded by John Perzel In office
January 2, 1979 – November 30, 1980Preceded by Jack Seltzer Succeeded by Samuel Hayes Republican Whip of the
Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesIn office
January 2, 1973 – November 30, 1978Preceded by Robert Butera Succeeded by Samuel Hayes Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the 168th districtIn office
January 7, 1969 – March 29, 2003Preceded by District Created Succeeded by Tom Killion Constituency Part of Delaware County Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
from the Delaware County districtIn office
January 1, 1963 – November 30, 1968Personal details Born April 27, 1932
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDied March 29, 2003 (aged 70)[1]
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPolitical party Republican Spouse(s) Patricia Jenkins Matthew J. Ryan was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for over 40 years and served as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Ryan 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 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 1973–1978, 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 1981–1982.[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]
The "Speaker Matthew J. Ryan Building" on the state capitol grounds
In 1999, the Capitol Annex of the Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg was renamed the Speaker Matthew J. Ryan Legislative Office Building.[3] The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania is named in his honor.[6]
External links
References
- ^ Cox, Harold (November 3, 2004). "Pennsylvania House of Representatives – 2003–2004". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University. http://staffweb.wilkes.edu/harold.cox/legis/187H.pdf.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Matthew J. Ryan (Republican)". Official Pennsylvania House of Representatives Profile. Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Archived from the original on 2000-12-06. http://web.archive.org/web/20001206140900/http://www.house.state.pa.us/members/districts/168/168.htm.
- ^ a b Fuoco, Linda Wilson (2003-03-31). "Obituary: Matthew J. Ryan / Long-serving Pa. House speaker". Pittsburgh Post Gazette (PG Publishing Co.). http://www.post-gazette.com/obituaries/20030331ryanobit0331p1.asp.
- ^ "Smartest Legislators". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2002. Archived from the original on 2002-01-15. http://web.archive.org/web/20020115192436/politicspa.com/FEATURES/SmartestLegislators.htm.
- ^ "Keystone State Yearbook Committee". PoliticsPA. The Publius Group. 2001. Archived from the original on 2002-08-31. http://web.archive.org/web/20020803170058/www.politicspa.com/yearbookcommittee.htm.
- ^ http://www.vet.upenn.edu/schoolresources/communications/publications/bellwether/58/dedication.html
Speakers of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives (Since 1791) Bingham • Wynkoop • Latimer • Evans • Weaver • Snyder • Porter • Snyder • Boileau • Engle • Weber • Tod • R. Smith • St. Clair • Holgate • Hill • Davidson • Hill • J. Lawrence • Gilmore • J. Lawrence • Sutherland • Ritner • Middleswarth • F. Smith • Laporte • Findley • Anderson • W. Patterson • J. Thompson • Middleswarth • Dewart • Hopkins • Crabb • Snowden • H. Wright • Snowden • F. Patterson • Cooper • Packer • McCalmont • Cessna • Rhey • Schell • Chase • Strong • Richardson Wright • Getz • Longaker • W. Lawrence • Davis • Rowe • Cessna • Johnson • Olmstead • Kelley • Glass • Davis • Clark • Strang • Webb • Elliott • McCormick • S. Patterson • Myer • Long • Hewitt • Faunce • Graham • Boyer • C. Thompson • Walton • Boyer • Farr • Marshall • Walton • McClain • Cox • Shreve • Alter • Ambler • Baldwin • Spangler • Whitaker • Goodnough • Bluett • McClure • Hess • Goodnough • Talbot • Sarig • Furman • Turner • Kilroy • Fiss • Lichtenwalter • Sorg • C. Smith • Andrews • Helm • Andrews • Helm • Hamilton • Lee • Fineman • Lee • Fineman • Irvis • Seltzer • Ryan • Irvis • Manderino • O'Donnell • DeWeese • Ryan • Perzel • O'Brien • McCall • S. Smith
Categories:- Speakers of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Villanova University alumni
- Villanova University School of Law alumni
- 1932 births
- 2003 deaths
- Pennsylvania Republicans
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