Donald P. Ryan (Wisconsin politician)

Donald P. Ryan was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on February 5, 1909, in an Irish Catholic family. He lived nearly his entire life in Milwaukee, attending St. Rose's Catholic School and then graduating from Saint Johns Cathedral High School in 1927. He worked as a fireman on the Milwaukee Railroad and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers labor union. He also served three years in the Wisconsin National Guard after graduating from high school.[1]

He was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly from Milwaukee County's 8th Assembly district in 1934 and re-elected in 1936. He served in the 1935–1936 and 1937–1938 sessions. At the time, he was the youngest member of the Legislature, being not quite 26 years old at the time of his inauguration.[1] He sought a third term in 1938 but was defeated in a primary challenge by Robert S. McCormack, who was defeated in the general election by Charles H. Judd.[2]