il_gov_ryan
SECRETARY OF STATE GEORGE RYAN,
Age: 64 Born: February 24, 1934; Maquoketa, Iowa Education: B.S., Ferris State College (1961) Military: U.S. Army (1954-56) Family: Married Lura Lynn; Six children Hometown: Kankakee, Illinois Religion: Methodist Career: Secretary of State (1991-present); Lieutenant Governor (1983-91); Illinois House of Representatives (1973-83); Kankakee County Board (1966-72); pharmacist (1962-90) |
• Ryan was born in Maquoketa, Iowa but grew up in Kankakee, Illinois, where he still lives. He graduated from Kankakee High School in 1952.
• He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1954. He spent 13 months in Korea before he was discharged in 1956.
• In 1961, he graduated from Ferris State College in Big Rapids, Michigan, with a degree in pharmacy. He entered the pharmacy profession and co-owned a chain of family-run drug stores in Kankakee from 1962-90.
• Ryan served as a member of the Kankakee County Board from 1966-72, and he chaired it in 1971-72.
• Ryan was elected to the Illinois House of Representative in 1972. After two terms in the House, he was elected Minority Leader and served as the GOPÂ's leader in the statehouse for four years (1977-80). When Republicans took control of the legislature after the 1980 election, Ryan became the Speaker of the House (1981-83).
• He first ran for statewide office as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor in 1982. He was elected on a ticket with then-Gov. James Thompson (R) and served two terms in this office before moving to the Secretary of StateÂ's office.
• Ryan is currently the Secretary of State in Illinois, a post he has filled since 1991. He was first elected to the position in 1990 with 53% of the vote over Democrat Jerry Cosentino. He was re-elected in 1994 with 60% of the vote against Democrat Patrick Quinn.