George William Ryan

Bill was a native Vermonter growing up as a boy in Fair Haven. Through the years, the family enjoyed spending as much time as possible at their farm in Castleton. While growing up, Bill attended the Fair Haven schools and was a member of Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church. He was a star athlete for the Slater's in football, basketball, and baseball at Fair Haven High School winning five state championships in the late 1950's. Bill became the first athlete from Fair Haven to be inducted in the VPA sports Hall of Fame. Upon graduation in 1959, he accepted a full athletic scholarship to the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

In 1961, Bill signed a three year "bonus" baby contract with the Milwaukee Braves and won his first 10 games in professional baseball being named MVP of the Pioneer League in Idaho and Montana. However, a torn rotator cuff the next year, limited his professional career, though he also pitched in Austin, TX and Yakima, WA as well as with the Braves for two seasons in winter baseball and spring training in Florida until his guaranteed contract expired.

Bill married Susan Murray from Wyckoff, NJ on March 2, 1963 and they have been married 63 years. Sue was a graduate of Green Mountain College in Poultney, VT, which is where they first met.

They have two children, Kelly Yancey of Atlanta, GA and Bill, Jr. of Charlotte, NC; five grandchildren, Billy, Jack, Jake, Chris, and Katie and a great grandson, Lincoln.

After professional baseball, the Ryan's moved to New Jersey where Sue worked as a graphic artist for the American Cyanamid Company and Bill went to work in the broadcasting industry, initially for Westinghouse, then for Kaiser Broadcasting, and lastly, for the Washington Post Company where he worked for over 30 years rising to chairman and CEO of their broadcast company. Bill especially loved working for Katherine Graham, who owned the Post Company during the time the paper broke many major news stories such as the Pentagon Papers and Watergate.

In his broadcasting career, Bill served in many management positions in Philadelphia, Chicago, Miami, Washington, and Hartford, CT. During his career, Bill was deeply involved in industry matters and often lobbied Congress in his role as Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters. In addition, he served on the boards of the Associated Press, the CBS Affiliates Board, the ABC Affiliate's Board, the Television Advertising Bureau, and the Chambers of Commerce in Miami, Hartford, and Philadelphia.

Bill also received numerous honors during his distinguished career, including induction into the Broadcast Hall of Fame in 2006, two National Emmy's for Broadcast Editorials, the Reuben Askew Award from the state of Florida and the key to the city of Miami in 1988 for his work fostering better working relations between the diverse cultures coming together at the time. He was also recognized by the American Women in Radio and Television, and the Philadelphia Urban League for his commitment to the growth of women and minorities in the broadcast industry.

In 1987, the Ryan's helped found the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis after their son, Bill, Jr. suffered a severe spinal cord injury, which left him a quadriplegic. After the injury, the Ryan's joined with Dr. Barth Green and Nick Buoniconti, of Miami Dolphin fame, and a former friend of Bill's at Notre Dame, whose son Marc, had also suffered a devastating spinal injury and together, they launched the Miami Project which has become one of the most distinguished neuroscience and treatment centers in the world and is still under the leadership of Dr. Barth Green.

Besides their ongoing efforts on behalf of the Miami Project, Bill and Sue have become well known for other philanthropic giving as well. Among their many favorite charities are the Jupiter Medical Center, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Shriners Children's Hospital, Tunnel to Towers, K9's for Warriors, and Honor Service Dogs.

In addition, Bill has always felt strongly about giving back to his hometown community and the surrounding area in his native Vermont. After Notre Dame, he established "the Green Mountain Scholarship" at Notre Dame for deserving Vermont students wishing to attend. He also established the Hilltop Awards at his former high school in Fair Haven for outstanding graduating seniors.

The Ryan's have also been generous supporters of many local charities as well, including State Valley Cares, Castleton Cares, Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, and other local causes and individuals.