Mayor 1951, 1953, 1956
He was mayor for three terms in 1951, 1953 and 1956 and finance committee vice chairman for most of his term in council. When elected to the position of mayor in December 1950, he was the youngest mayor at the age of twenty eight years. He conducted a cordial manufacturing plant but health and business reasons forced his resignation. Elected to council in 1947, he served until 1959. Following Davis Hughes' resignation as mayor, he was elected as mayor in April 1956. Ill-health caused his resignation in October 1958, but he was re-elected to council in 1963 but resigned from council in January 1965. He served as vice chairman of the finance committee for most of his term in council. He was one of the first members of the New England Electricity County Council from 1954 to 1958 and for 1963 to 1964. He was much involved in the West Armidale Progress Association.
Born in Armidale to Mr and Mrs T.O. Ryan, he was educated at Armidale High School. After leaving school, he worked four years in the ironmongery department of F. Braund and Son. In September 1939 he enlisted in the 2nd A.I.F. and served in the Middle East. He was wounded in New Guinea and invalided to Tamworth. Following his transfer to the Reserve, he was discharged medically unfit in 1943.
On his discharge, he married Miss McNamara of Parramatta and entered into a partnership with his father who had been conducting a cordial factory at the corner of Beardy and Butler Streets.