Lura Lynn Ryan
Encyclopedia
Lura Lynn Ryan was the First Lady
of the U.S. state
of Illinois
from 1999 to 2003. She was the wife of former Illinois Governor George Ryan
.
to parents, Lawrence and Dorothea Lowe. Her father was the owner of a hybrid seed company, while her mother was a Kankakee County school trustee. Lowe was raised on a family farm near Aroma Park.
Lowe met her future husband, George Ryan
, while both were students in a freshman
English class at Kankakee High School
. Lowe mulled becoming a nurse following high school, but decided against that career path. She received a degree from the former Moser Business College.
She married Ryan at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Kankakee, Illinois
, on June 10, 1956 after dating for eight years. The couple had six children, including one group of triplets. Their first child, Nancy, was born in 1957; daughter, Lynda, was born in 1961; triplets, Jeanette, Joanne and Julie were born in 1962; and her youngest, George Jr., was born in 1964. None of her children entered politics.
Her husband, George, entered politics when he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives
in 1972, with Ryan becoming a political spouse while simultaneously raising six small children.
of Illinois
on January 11, 1999. She sought to become an active Illinois First Lady similar to her predecessors, Jayne Thompson and Brenda Edgar. Ryan was considered particularly devoted to issues involving the arts
, drug
and alcohol abuse
, organ donation
, historic preservation
and the recognition of Abraham Lincoln.
As First Lady, Ryan became a major fundraiser
and first chairwoman of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
, which opened in 2005 in Springfield, Illinois
. She launched the fundraising for the library by raising $250,000. Ryan also organized a program in which Illinois schoolchildren collected pennies for the construction of the presidential library
, which raised $47,000 dollars. Ryan was appointed to the 14-member Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
by the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
to commemorate the 200th birthday of former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln
in 2009. She served on the commission from 2001 to 2010.
She supported efforts to restore funding to the Illinois Department of Alcohol and Substance Abuse and drug prevention programs. Ryan supported after school programs and literacy
campaigns aimed at discouraging drug use among young people in Illinois. The anti-drug nonprofit, Prevention First
, honored Lura Lynn Ryan's work by naming two research libraries
in Springfield and Chicago
for her. Together, the two libraries hold one of the United States' largest collections on substance abuse
.
Ryan collaborated with former Illinois Governor James Thompson
to raise $250,000 to acquire 19th Century Amish
quilts then housed by the Illinois State Museum
. Ryan traveled with her husband on official international trips to promote Illinois products, including to Cuba
, where they met with then President Fidel Castro
, and South Africa, where she met Nelson Mandela
.
Ryan co-authored a book, At Home with Illinois Governors: A Social History of the Illinois Executive Mansion, 1855-2003, with historian
Dan Monroe in 2002 on the history of Illinois Governors and their families. She further promoted and spearheaded the success of Made in Illinois, a catalog
which had been first launched in 1988 to promote crafts and other products produced in Illinois.
Ryan launched several renovations Illinois Executive Mansion
. She refurbished much of the furniture in the mansion using private donations through the Executive Mansion Association. In particular, Ryan fixed items in the mansion's Kankakee Room, which honors former Illinois governors from Kankakee County - Lennington Small, Samuel Shapiro and her husband, George Ryan.
appealing for clemency from President George W. Bush
.
Lura Lynn Ryan was diagnosed with cancer during her later years. Her husband, George Ryan, was temporarily released from prison in Terre Haute, Indiana
, on four occasions between January and June 2011 as his wife's health declined in 2011. She died from complications of cancer and chemotherapy
at a hospital in Kankakee, Illinois
, on June 27, 2011, with her husband at her side.
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
from 1999 to 2003. She was the wife of former Illinois Governor George Ryan
George Ryan
George Homer Ryan, Sr. was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1999 until 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. Ryan became nationally known when in 2000 he imposed a moratorium on executions and "raised the national debate on capital punishment"...
.
Early life
Ryan was born Lura Lynn Lowe on July 5, 1934, in Aroma Park, IllinoisAroma Park, Illinois
Aroma Park is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, along the Kankakee River opposite the mouth of the Iroquois River. Aroma Park's population was 821 at the 2000 census...
to parents, Lawrence and Dorothea Lowe. Her father was the owner of a hybrid seed company, while her mother was a Kankakee County school trustee. Lowe was raised on a family farm near Aroma Park.
Lowe met her future husband, George Ryan
George Ryan
George Homer Ryan, Sr. was the 39th Governor of the U.S. state of Illinois from 1999 until 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. Ryan became nationally known when in 2000 he imposed a moratorium on executions and "raised the national debate on capital punishment"...
, while both were students in a freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
English class at Kankakee High School
Kankakee High School
Kankakee High School is a public secondary school in Kankakee, Illinois and is part of the Kankakee School District 111. KHS serves grades nine through twelve....
. Lowe mulled becoming a nurse following high school, but decided against that career path. She received a degree from the former Moser Business College.
She married Ryan at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Kankakee, Illinois
Kankakee, Illinois
Kankakee is a city in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 25,561, and 26,840 as of a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Kankakee County...
, on June 10, 1956 after dating for eight years. The couple had six children, including one group of triplets. Their first child, Nancy, was born in 1957; daughter, Lynda, was born in 1961; triplets, Jeanette, Joanne and Julie were born in 1962; and her youngest, George Jr., was born in 1964. None of her children entered politics.
Her husband, George, entered politics when he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives
Illinois House of Representatives
The Illinois House of Representatives is the lower house of the Illinois General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. The body was created by the first Illinois Constitution adopted in 1818. The state House of Representatives is made of 118 representatives elected from...
in 1972, with Ryan becoming a political spouse while simultaneously raising six small children.
First Lady of Illinois
Ryan became the First LadyFirst Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
on January 11, 1999. She sought to become an active Illinois First Lady similar to her predecessors, Jayne Thompson and Brenda Edgar. Ryan was considered particularly devoted to issues involving the arts
The arts
The arts are a vast subdivision of culture, composed of many creative endeavors and disciplines. It is a broader term than "art", which as a description of a field usually means only the visual arts. The arts encompass visual arts, literary arts and the performing arts – music, theatre, dance and...
, drug
Drug abuse
Substance abuse, also known as drug abuse, refers to a maladaptive pattern of use of a substance that is not considered dependent. The term "drug abuse" does not exclude dependency, but is otherwise used in a similar manner in nonmedical contexts...
and alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse, as described in the DSM-IV, is a psychiatric diagnosis describing the recurring use of alcoholic beverages despite negative consequences. Alcohol abuse eventually progresses to alcoholism, a condition in which an individual becomes dependent on alcoholic beverages in order to avoid...
, organ donation
Organ donation
Organ donation is the donation of biological tissue or an organ of the human body, from a living or dead person to a living recipient in need of a transplantation. Transplantable organs and tissues are removed in a surgical procedure following a determination, based on the donor's medical and...
, historic preservation
Historic preservation
Historic preservation is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance...
and the recognition of Abraham Lincoln.
Fundraiser
A fundraiser is an event or campaign whose primary purpose is to raise money for a cause. See also: fundraising. A fundraiser can also be an individual or company whose primary job is to raise money for a specific charity or non-profit organization...
and first chairwoman of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum documents the life of the 16th U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln, and the course of the American Civil War. Combining traditional scholarship with 21st century showmanship techniques, the popular museum continues to rank as one of the most visited...
, which opened in 2005 in Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
. She launched the fundraising for the library by raising $250,000. Ryan also organized a program in which Illinois schoolchildren collected pennies for the construction of the presidential library
Presidential library
In the United States, the Presidential library system is a nationwide network of 13 libraries administered by the Office of Presidential Libraries, which is part of the National Archives and Records Administration...
, which raised $47,000 dollars. Ryan was appointed to the 14-member Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission was the Congressionally created 14-member federal commission focused on planning and commemorating the 200th birthday of the United States' 16th president on February 12, 2009. The commission served for ten years, from 2000 to 2010...
by the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
to commemorate the 200th birthday of former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
in 2009. She served on the commission from 2001 to 2010.
She supported efforts to restore funding to the Illinois Department of Alcohol and Substance Abuse and drug prevention programs. Ryan supported after school programs and literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
campaigns aimed at discouraging drug use among young people in Illinois. The anti-drug nonprofit, Prevention First
Prevention First
Prevention First is a nonprofit resource center based in Springfield, Illinois, committed to building and supporting healthy, drug-free communities through public education, professional training and effective tools for those working to prevent drug use and related issues such as violence, teen...
, honored Lura Lynn Ryan's work by naming two research libraries
Research library
A research library is a library which contains an in-depth collection of material on one or several subjects . A research library will generally include primary sources as well as secondary sources...
in Springfield and Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
for her. Together, the two libraries hold one of the United States' largest collections on substance abuse
Substance abuse
A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...
.
Ryan collaborated with former Illinois Governor James Thompson
James Thompson
James Thompson is the name of:* James Thompson , Catholic priest hanged under Elizabeth I*James Thompson , who produced one of the first maps of York...
to raise $250,000 to acquire 19th Century Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
quilts then housed by the Illinois State Museum
Illinois State Museum
The Illinois State Museum is the official museum of the natural history of the U.S. state of Illinois. The headquarters museum is located on Spring and Edwards Streets, one block southwest of the Illinois State Capitol, in Springfield, the state capital...
. Ryan traveled with her husband on official international trips to promote Illinois products, including to Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, where they met with then President Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
, and South Africa, where she met Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
.
Ryan co-authored a book, At Home with Illinois Governors: A Social History of the Illinois Executive Mansion, 1855-2003, with historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
Dan Monroe in 2002 on the history of Illinois Governors and their families. She further promoted and spearheaded the success of Made in Illinois, a catalog
Catalog
Catalog or catalogue may refer to:In science and technology:*Astronomical catalog, a catalog of astronomical objects**Star catalog, a catalog of stars*Pharmacopoeia, a book containing directions for the preparation of compound medicines...
which had been first launched in 1988 to promote crafts and other products produced in Illinois.
Ryan launched several renovations Illinois Executive Mansion
Illinois Executive Mansion
The Illinois Executive Mansion is the official residence of the Governor of Illinois. It is located at 410 E. Jackson Street in Springfield, Illinois and is open to tours on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, free of charge. The Georgian style Mansion was designed by Chicago architect John M....
. She refurbished much of the furniture in the mansion using private donations through the Executive Mansion Association. In particular, Ryan fixed items in the mansion's Kankakee Room, which honors former Illinois governors from Kankakee County - Lennington Small, Samuel Shapiro and her husband, George Ryan.
Later life
Ryan left her position as First Lady in 2003 at the end of her husband's term in office. Former Governor George Ryan was convicted of corruption in 2006 after a long trial. George Ryan was found guilty of using his office to for political benefits while serving as Governor and Secretary of State, as well as provided favorable state contracts to friends He was sent to prison in Indiana. Lura Lynn Ryan remained personally supportive of her husband. She wrote a letter in 2008 to former U.S. First Lady Barbara BushBarbara Bush
Barbara Pierce Bush is the wife of the 41st President of the United States George H. W. Bush, and served as First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. She is the mother of the 43rd President George W. Bush and of the 43rd Governor of Florida Jeb Bush...
appealing for clemency from President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
Lura Lynn Ryan was diagnosed with cancer during her later years. Her husband, George Ryan, was temporarily released from prison in Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute, Indiana
Terre Haute is a city and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, near the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943. The city is the county seat of Vigo County and...
, on four occasions between January and June 2011 as his wife's health declined in 2011. She died from complications of cancer and chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
at a hospital in Kankakee, Illinois
Kankakee, Illinois
Kankakee is a city in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 25,561, and 26,840 as of a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Kankakee County...
, on June 27, 2011, with her husband at her side.