SR0939 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Matthew Edward Ryan of Joliet, who passed away on September 13, 2010; and

WHEREAS, After moving to Joliet in 2004, Matthew Ryan served as Chief of Staff for Will County Executive Larry Walsh until Mr. Ryan passed away; he also worked closely with the Joliet Chamber of Commerce, the Center for Economic Development, the Rialto Square Theatre, Easter Seals, Cornerstone Services, the 911 Board, and the Joliet Development Arsenal Authority; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Ryan became active in politics in his teenage years, when his uncle ran for city treasurer in Alton in 1972; he managed his uncle's reelection as city treasurer in 1977; he also helped develop the winning strategy for Paul Lenz's reelection as Mayor of Alton after Lenz was disqualified from the ballot because of petition deficiencies; the election was one of the largest write-in victories for a city of Alton's size, which was 40,000 at the time; and

WHEREAS, In 1980, Matthew Ryan served as an area coordinator for David Robinson, who ran against Paul Findley for the 20th Congressional seat; the campaign staff for the Robinson team included David Wilhelm, Rahm Emanuel, and Forrest Claypool; and

WHEREAS, In 1982, Matthew Ryan joined Senate President Phil Rock's staff and was elected as President of the Illinois Young Democrats in 1984; he subsequently managed the successful campaign of United States Representative George Sangmeister in 1992 and signed on with the Paul Vallas for Governor campaign as campaign manager in 2001; the state-wide campaign resulted in the closest Democratic primary race in more than 25 years, despite being outspent 3-1 by an incumbent Democratic congressman; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Ryan and his wife, Angela Welsh, met at the Illinois State Capitol and married in 1993; and

WHEREAS, Matthew Ryan is survived by his wife, Angela; his parents, Robert and Mary Jane (Yenny) Ryan; his sister, Susan (Jim) Martin; his nieces Anne and Tess Martin; his sister, Kathleen (Dave) Lang; and his niece Leslie Lang; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Matthew Edward Ryan; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Matthew Ryan as a symbol of our sympathy.