• Article Image Alt Text
    Former Alderman Michael Ryan Jr., was honored in April 2017 for his 20 years of service to the citizens of Sullivan having served on the Board of Alderman for two decades. Pictured in this photograph with Ryan in 2017 was former and present Sullivan City Council members. Photo by James B. Bartle

Longtime Alderman Michael J. Ryan Jr. Passes At Age 90

The past week the Sullivan community lost a long time member of the Sullivan City Council, an Eagle Hall of Fame member having served as President and Vice President of the Sullivan Fraternal Order of Eagles Arie 3781, a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church and a Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus, when Michael “Mike” J. Ryan, Jr., passed away Friday, July 24, at age 90.

Ryan served on the Sullivan City Council for two stints going from April 4, 1995 to April 21, 1998 and again on April 3, 2001 to April 18, 2017, having voted on 1,561 ordinances in the City of Sullivan and sponsoring 172 of them.

During his 20 years of public service, Ryan played key roles in a number of capital improvements made by councils during his terms that included: major sewer and storm water improvements, street and sidewalk improvements, construction of a new wastewater treatment plant facility, a new overpass, the first roundabout in Franklin County, a Menard’s distribution center, two new medical helicopter services for Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital, electrical and water service upgrades, computerized electric and water meter reading systems and hiring of first school resource officers.

According to a proclamation written by Sullivan Mayor Dennis Watz, presented to Ryan on his retirement for the Board of Alderman, April 18, 2017, “Michael J. Ryan, Jr., is hereby commended for his many faithful years as an honest and dedicated public official. His mannerism, professionalism and what became known as legendary “Ryan-ism” we appreciated by all of his peers, constituents, 

and basically anyone that knew him.”

Ryan moved to Sullivan with his family in 1964 where he worked 10 years for Pea Ridge Mine before becoming a Federal Mine Inspector for the conclusion of his career.

For a complete obituary on Michael J. Ryan Jr., see this week’s obituaries on Page 6D of the Sullivan Independent News.

Sullivan Independent News

Sullivan Independent News
411 Scottsdale
Sullivan, MO 63080

Phone: 573-468-6511
Fax: 573-468-4046

 

general@sullivannews.net
sports@sullivannews.net
advertising@sullivannews.net
billing@sullivannews.net