Murray Ryan, photo taken in 2008

Murray Ryan and his great-grand-daughter at his 90th birthday party at Fort Bayard in 2012Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

[Editor's Note: More  has been added, as this author finds and publishes the two interviews she had with Murray Ryan. Some of the quotes in this first part come from an article on Ryan as a veteran, which was published in the Silver City Daily Press in March 2008, or from an article published in the May or June 2009 edition of the Glenwood Gazette. The two articles are added to the end of this short article.]

Murray Ryan, native of Grant County, graduate of St. Mary's Academy in Silver City and West Point, veteran who served in Germany immediately after World War II, and New Mexico legislator for 30 years through 1998, died at his home surrounded by family and long-time friends.

He was always willing to talk about the history of Grant County and loved having company.

Ryan was born in Central (now known as Santa Clara) in the house owned by his grandfather W.D. Murray, for whom he is named. His mother, Lyda Murray, was born in the same house in 1897.

He grew up in Silver City, where he attended St. Mary's Academy for his first eight years of schooling. He then went to Teacher's High School, a part of State Teachers' College, which is now Western New Mexico University. Ryan continued his education at State Teachers' College before receiving an appointment to West Point.

Ryan described Silver City in the 1930s as being "not much smaller than it is now."

His mother married James Ryan in 1919 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.

On Aug. 25, 1945, "at 11 a.m., I married Marian Buchella at the same church as my parents and grandparents, but we got married in the rectory, because Marian wasnG