South Boston Citizens’ Association President Tom McGrath is pleased to announce that Kevin Ryan has been chosen to receive the John W. McCormack Award at the South Boston Citizens’ Association’s 136th Annual Evacuation Day Banquet, March 18. “It is an honor for the association to present this award to Kevin for his countless contributions to the betterment of South Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States for well over 30 years,” McGrath said.
In 1982, Kevin Ryan moved to Washington, D.C. with the assistance of then Congressman Joe Moakley to work at the U.S. House of Representatives Post Office.
In 1983, Moakley appointed Ryan to work as a legislative assistant on the Subcommittee on the Rules of the House. In 1989, after Congressman Moakley was named Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Ryan was promoted to the staff of the House Rules Committee serving as a House Floor Assistant to the Committee and Congressman Moakley. In 1996, Ryan was appointed Chief of Staff for Congressman Moakley, where he served until Congressman Moakley passed away in May 2001.
Upon his election to Congress in October 2001, Congressman Stephen Lynch appointed Ryan as his chief of staff, where Kevin is currently serving. Ryan has worked with the South Boston Community Health Center, the Cushing House, as well as a number of local elected officials in helping them identify federal funding opportunities and assisting them in navigating through the federal agencies in Washington, D.C. In addition, he has worked with the South Boston Veterans groups when the veterans come to Washington, D.C., to tour the WWII, Korean and Vietnam War Memorials.
Kevin Ryan is a member of the board of directors for the John Joseph Moakley Scholarship Committee, which has awarded nearly $2 million in scholarships awards to the students of the 8th and 9th Congressional Districts, including dozens of South Boston students. Ryan grew up in the Old Colony Housing Projects with his four sisters – Kathy Ryan, Karen MacDougall, Terry White, and Kelly Fullam -and is a graduate of South Boston High, Class of 1975. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Averett University and a master’s degree in Government from Johns Hopkins University.
Ryan is the son of Terry and Rob Ryan, is married to Laurie Ryan, and is the proud father of Christian Ryan.
This award, along with the Shamrock and Presidents awards will be presented at the Association’s 136th Annual Evacuation Day Banquet, to be held on Friday, March 18, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. For information on tickets, call Tom McGrath at 1-857-204-5825.
