Person in history
George Ryan
George Ryan, American politician, 39th Governor of Illinois (born 1934)
Life at a glance
- Died
- 2025 · May 2
Their story
Who they were
George Ryan, American politician, 39th Governor of Illinois (born 1934)
Early life
Ryan was born on February 24, 1934, in Maquon, Illinois. He earned a degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and served in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Path and career
Ryan was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives in 1972 and served until 1980. He then served as Secretary of State of Illinois from 1995 to 1999, overseeing vehicle registration and licensing.
As governor, Ryan commuted the sentences of 167 death row inmates in 2003, citing concerns about the state's capital punishment system. He was convicted of racketeering and fraud in 2006 related to his time as Secretary of State and served approximately five years in federal prison.
Why this date
George Ryan appears on our May 2 calendar for 2025 as a death entry.
Sources
Cite this page
“George Ryan”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/people/george-ryan, accessed October 26, 2026.
Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.
Questions about George Ryan
When did George Ryan die?
May 2 2025.
Who else was born on this day?
The date page lists everyone we hold for that calendar day.
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