Harold M. Ryan

Who was Harold M. Ryan?

Harold Martin Ryan was a politician and judge from the U.S. state of Michigan.

Ryan was born in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from St. Joseph’s High School in 1929. He attended Ferris Institute now Ferris State University of Big Rapids, Michigan 1929-1930 as well as attended Michigan State College (now Michigan State University) of East Lansing 1930-1932. He received a J.D. from the University of Detroit Law School in 1935 and admitted to the bar the same year and engaged in private practice. He later assistant prosecuting attorney of Wayne County, 1945-1946.

Ryan served as a member of the Michigan Senate, 1948–1962, and was minority leader for the final six years. He was a delegate to Michigan state conventions every two years from 1940 to 1970 and a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1956, 1960, and 1964.

On February 13, 1962, in a special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of U.S. Representative Louis C. Rabaut, Ryan was elected as a Democrat from Michigan's 14th congressional district to the 87th Congress. In November 1962, Ryan was reelected to a full term in the 88th Congress, serving from February 13, 1962 to January 3, 1965. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-nomination to the 89th Congress in 1964, losing to fellow Democrat Lucien N. Nedzi. He also lost against Nedzi in the primaries two years later.