Pennsylvania State Representative. Speaker of the Pennsylvania House. Matthew Ryan was educated at Saint Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia, and went of to Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania House Speaker Matthew J. Ryan, whose 40 years in the Legislature included more than 30 years in leadership positions, died Saturday night from complications related to stomach cancer. He was 70. Ryan was elected to his first house term in 1962. He served as majority leader for the 1979-80 session, and was first elected speaker in 1981. From 1983 to 1994, he was minority leader. He was elected speaker for his second two-year term in 1995 and for each successive two-year term since. In 1999, the Capitol Annex was renamed the Speaker Matthew J. Ryan Legislative Office Building, a rare honor for a living legislator. Ryan was Pennsylvania's third-longest-serving speaker, and, in the 319-year history of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, only one member has been in the House longer. Ryan was particularly interested in education issues. As a result of his major support of the University of Pennsylvania veterinary schools they were renamed the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Schools of the University of Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State Representative. Speaker of the Pennsylvania House. Matthew Ryan was educated at Saint Joseph's Preparatory School in Philadelphia, and went of to Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania House Speaker Matthew J. Ryan, whose 40 years in the Legislature included more than 30 years in leadership positions, died Saturday night from complications related to stomach cancer. He was 70. Ryan was elected to his first house term in 1962. He served as majority leader for the 1979-80 session, and was first elected speaker in 1981. From 1983 to 1994, he was minority leader. He was elected speaker for his second two-year term in 1995 and for each successive two-year term since. In 1999, the Capitol Annex was renamed the Speaker Matthew J. Ryan Legislative Office Building, a rare honor for a living legislator. Ryan was Pennsylvania's third-longest-serving speaker, and, in the 319-year history of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, only one member has been in the House longer. Ryan was particularly interested in education issues. As a result of his major support of the University of Pennsylvania veterinary schools they were renamed the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Schools of the University of Pennsylvania.
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Speaker of the Pennsylvania House
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