Harold M. Ryan
Encyclopedia
Harold Martin Ryan was a politician and judge from the U.S. state
of Michigan
.
Ryan was born in Detroit, Michigan
. He graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in 1929. He attended Ferris Institute (now Ferris State University
of Big Rapids, Michigan
1929-1930 as well as attended Michigan State College (now Michigan State University
) of East Lansing
1930-1932. He received a J.D.
from the University of Detroit Law School in 1935 and admitted to the bar the same year and engaged in private practice. He later assistant prosecuting attorney of Wayne County
, 1945-1946.
Ryan served as a member of the Michigan Senate
, 1948–1962, and was minority leader for the final six years. He was a delegate to Michigan state conventions every two years from 1940 to 1970 and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
s of 1956
, 1960
, and 1964
.
On February 13, 1962, in a special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of U.S. Representative Louis C. Rabaut
, Ryan was elected as a Democrat
from Michigan's 14th congressional district
to the 87th Congress
. In November 1962, Ryan was reelected to a full term in the 88th Congress
, serving from February 13, 1962 to January 3, 1965. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-nomination to the 89th Congress in 1964, losing to fellow Democrat Lucien N. Nedzi
. He also lost against Nedzi in the primaries two years later.
A decade after leaving Congress, he served as circuit judge of Wayne County
for the third judicial circuit of Michigan from 1976 to 1985. He was a visiting judge from 1985 to 2006.
Harold M. Ryan was a Catholic and a member of Knights of Columbus
, Lions
, and Gamma Eta Gamma. He lived in St. Clair Shores, Michigan
until his death of congestive heart failure
at 96 years of age.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
.
Ryan was born in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. He graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in 1929. He attended Ferris Institute (now Ferris State University
Ferris State University
Ferris State University is a public university with its main campus in Big Rapids, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1884 as the Big Rapids Industrial School by Woodbridge Nathan Ferris, an educator from New England who later served as governor of the State of Michigan and finally in the US Senate where...
of Big Rapids, Michigan
Big Rapids, Michigan
Big Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,849. It is the county seat of Mecosta County. The city is located within Big Rapids Township, but is politically independent.-Geography:...
1929-1930 as well as attended Michigan State College (now Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
) of East Lansing
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
1930-1932. He received a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the University of Detroit Law School in 1935 and admitted to the bar the same year and engaged in private practice. He later assistant prosecuting attorney of Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
, 1945-1946.
Ryan served as a member of the Michigan Senate
Michigan Senate
The Michigan Senate is the upper house of the Michigan Legislature. The Senate consists of 38 members, who are elected from constituencies having approximately 212,400 to 263,500 residents....
, 1948–1962, and was minority leader for the final six years. He was a delegate to Michigan state conventions every two years from 1940 to 1970 and a delegate to the Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
s of 1956
1956 Democratic National Convention
The 1956 National Convention of the Democratic Party nominated former Governor Adlai Stevenson of Illinois for President and Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee for Vice President. It was held in the International Amphitheatre on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois August 13–17 1956. Unsuccessful...
, 1960
1960 Democratic National Convention
The 1960 Democratic National Convention was held in Los Angeles. In the end, the Kennedy-Johnson ticket was assembled and went on to secure an electoral college victory and a narrow popular vote plurality in the fall over the Republican candidates Richard M...
, and 1964
1964 Democratic National Convention
The 1964 Democratic National Convention was the 1964 presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party. It took place at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey from August 24 to 27, 1964. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson -- who had been Vice President under...
.
On February 13, 1962, in a special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of U.S. Representative Louis C. Rabaut
Louis C. Rabaut
Louis Charles Rabaut was politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. He was a Democratic congressman representing Michigan's 14th congressional district from 1935 to 1947, and from 1949 to 1961...
, Ryan was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
from Michigan's 14th congressional district
Michigan's 14th congressional district
Michigan's 14th congressional district is a congressional district in Wayne County, Michigan, encompassing the northwest side of Detroit, the suburbs located immediately west of the city, the Downriver suburbs adjacent to the Detroit River and the enclaves of Highland Park and Hamtramck. It has...
to the 87th Congress
87th United States Congress
-House of Representatives :-Senate:* President: Richard Nixon , until January 20, 1961** Lyndon Johnson , from January 20, 1961* President pro tempore: Carl Hayden -House of Representatives:...
. In November 1962, Ryan was reelected to a full term in the 88th Congress
88th United States Congress
The Eighty-eighth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1963 to January 3, 1965, during the last year of...
, serving from February 13, 1962 to January 3, 1965. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-nomination to the 89th Congress in 1964, losing to fellow Democrat Lucien N. Nedzi
Lucien N. Nedzi
Lucien Norbert Nedzi is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Michigan....
. He also lost against Nedzi in the primaries two years later.
A decade after leaving Congress, he served as circuit judge of Wayne County
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
for the third judicial circuit of Michigan from 1976 to 1985. He was a visiting judge from 1985 to 2006.
Harold M. Ryan was a Catholic and a member of Knights of Columbus
Knights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
, Lions
Lions Clubs International
Lions Clubs International is a secular service organization with over 44,500 clubs and more than 1,368,683 members in 191 countries around the world founded by Melvin Jones Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, United States, the organization aims to meet the needs of communities on a local and...
, and Gamma Eta Gamma. He lived in St. Clair Shores, Michigan
St. Clair Shores, Michigan
St. Clair Shores is a suburban city bordering Lake St. Clair in Macomb County of the U.S. state of Michigan. It forms a part of the Metro Detroit area, and is located approximately northeast of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,715. The current mayor is...
until his death of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
at 96 years of age.