Matthew J. Ryan was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for over 40 years and served as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Ryan was a 1950 graduate of Saint Joseph's Preparatory School, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He earned a degree from Villanova University in 1954 and a law degree from Villanova University School of Law in 1959.^[2] Ryan served in the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1956.^[3] The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania is named in his honor.^[4]

Ryan was first elected to represent the 168th legislative district in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1962.^[2] He served in the House Republican Leadership as Policy Committee Chairman from 1971 to 1972.^[2] He was the Republican Whip from 1973–1978, with 1973–1974 spent as the Majority Whip.^[2] He was elected Republican Leader in 1979–1980, with those years in the majority.^[2] He served as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1981–1982.^[2] In 1983, the Republicans became the minority and Ryan became the Republican Leader again.^[2] In 1995, the Republicans regained the majority and elected Ryan Speaker of the House, a position he held until his death in 2003.^[2][3]

In 2002, the political website PoliticsPA named him to the list of "Smartest Legislators," calling him "quick and sharp with his Irish wit from the Speaker's rostrum" and a "man of true wisdom."^[5] In a 2002 PoliticsPA Feature story designating politicians with yearbook superlatives, he was named the "Most Popular."^[6]

In 1999, the Capitol Annex of the Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg was renamed the Speaker Matthew J. Ryan Legislative Office Building.^[3] The Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania is named in his honor.^[4]

• Matthew J. Ryan (Republican) at the Wayback Machine (archived December 6, 2000)