RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, James E. Ryan has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 76; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Beloved Husband of 54 years to Marie (nee Pahls), Loving Father of John (Stacie), Jim (Jennifer), Matthew (Melissa), Amy, the late Patrick (2007) and the late Ann Marie (1997), and Proud Grandfather of Caitlyn, Joey, Sarah, Grace, Emma, Stella, Elly, Sophie, Sam, Michael and Molly, and
WHEREAS, Jim was born in Chicago on February 21,1946 and grew up in the suburb of Villa Park, IL; and
WHEREAS, At the age of 17 years old, Jim won the middleweight title in the 1963 Chicago Golden Gloves tournament; and
WHEREAS, He attended a Benedictine-run high school, Saint Procopius Academy (now Benet Academy); and
WHEREAS, After graduating from high school, Jim graduated from Saint Procopius College (now Benedictine University), where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science; and
WHEREAS, Jim then went on to Chicago-Kent College of Law where he obtained his J.D.inl971; and
WHEREAS, After graduating law school, Jim entered the legal profession having found a position with the DuPage County State's Attorney Office and was promoted to first Assistant State's Attorney after three years; and
WHEREAS, In 1976, Jim entered the private sector until his run in the 1984 elections as DuPage County State's Attorney winning the election and being re-elected in 1988 and 1992; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure as DuPage County State's Attorney, Jim served as President ofthe Illinois State's Attorney's Association; and
WHEREAS, Jim was elected as the Illinois Attorney General in 1994 and was re-elected in 1998 with the endorsement of every major newspaper in the state; and
WHEREAS, Jim's most notable accomplishment as Illinois Attorney General was his $9.1 billion settlement from tobacco companies; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, Jim became the Republican candidate for Governor, but lost in the general elections to Rod Blagojevich; and
WHEREAS, After the 2002 elections, Jim returned to his alma mater, Benedictine University where he was named a Distinguished Fellow and taught Political Science and Criminal Justice courses; and
WHEREAS, In 2005, Jim established the Center for Civic Leadership at Benedictine University; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, Jim ran again for Governor, but lost in the Republican Primary to State Senator Bill Brady; and
WHEREAS, Tp his beloved family, James E. Ryan imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members ofthe Chicago City Council, assembled this twentieth day of July, 2022, do hereby commemorate James E. Ryan for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of James E. Ryan.
Edward M. Burke; Alderman, 14th Ward