Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy
Exhibit at Murray Ryan Visitor Center honors the late Ryan at reception 063017
Exhibit at Murray Ryan Visitor Center honors the late Ryan at reception 063017
Ryan's daughter Kathleen Ryan welcomes visitors to the exhibit reception Friday afternoon
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Exhibit at Murray Ryan Visitor Center honors the late Ryan at reception 063017
Mary Alice Ryan, who lives in Dallas, and her mother Jane Ryan attend the reception
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Exhibit at Murray Ryan Visitor Center honors the late Ryan at reception 063017
Murray's brother, at right, James S. Ryan Jr, and his niece, Libby Richardson, at left.
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Exhibit at Murray Ryan Visitor Center honors the late Ryan at reception 063017
From left are Judy Darling, Kathleen Ryan, Heather Ryan, Kerry Ryan, Mike and Judy Bush, all kin to Murray Ryan, some by marriage.
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Exhibit at Murray Ryan Visitor Center honors the late Ryan at reception 063017
Murray Ryan's winter coat for cadets at West Point.
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Exhibit at Murray Ryan Visitor Center honors the late Ryan at reception 063017
Murray's granddaughter Judy Bush and grandson-in-law Mike Bush holding Kendel, one of Murray's 11 great-grandchildren.
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Exhibit at Murray Ryan Visitor Center honors the late Ryan at reception 063017
Jan Sherman, one of Murray's long-time friends since school days.
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One of the exhibit's explanatory plaques talked about Murray Ryan's early years: The Impish Child of a Legendary Family. This photo, at left, is of lifelong buddies-the terrible trio-from left, Bill Sheen, Mary Jane Martens and Murray Ryan.
An exhibit to honor the legacy of William Murray Ryan, who was born July 22, 1922, and died this year on Jan. 7, 2017, took place at the Visitor Center in Silver City. The center bears his name, the Murray Ryan Visitor Center.
He served as a long-time state representative in the New Mexico Legislature, representing his home area.
He was born in Santa Clara, then known as Central, in the same house where his mother was born, into a well-know Grant County family. His grandfather, W.D. Murray also served New Mexico and helped write, as well as sign, the first New Mexico Constitution.
A graduate of St. Mary's Academy and New Mexico State Teachers college for elementary and high school, he graduated from West Point just as World War II was ending, and served in Germany during the years after the war, helping the country recover.
He considered his family his legacy, and many attended the exhibit to show their love for him. Many of them also have chosen lives of service, as teachers, military officers, nurse administrators, pediatricians, environmental water specialists and police officers. He left behind 11 great-grandchildren.