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Vol. 42, Issue 4
www.methodist.edu/studentmedia
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ethodist College, Fayetteville, NC
Thursday, Octobers, 2003
Established 1961
photo by Lindsey Tederman
Counterclockwise: The
most recent yearbook
photo of Chris Ryan taken
just this past August
during registration day;
Chris takes a moment
before he heads into his
final graduation day
ceremonies this past
May;
Chris poses with a student
a few years back;
A wall-sized tribute has
been in the Berns Center
for over two weeks, in
which students, faculty
and staff are to write
memories. Thetributewill
be donated to his family.
photo by Jesse Shelton
LAURA PHILLIPS
Staff Writer
&
courtesy photo
11
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photo by Lindsey Tederman
Chris Ryan will always be
remembered for his outgoing per
sonality and as someone who always
greeted others with a smile. Eshawn
Young, a student who worked
closely with Ryan, “admired Chris as
a father figure and a friend.”
Angel Garcia, another fellow
student worker, stated that “Chris
loved his job, and he spent as much
time and effort with us as he would
his own family, to me. We were a
part of his family.” With such dedica
tion to his job and to the students at
Methodist College, Mr. Ryan was
known to always go the extra mile,
and, according to junnior Ashleigh
Radford, “help out students in every
way possible.”
Ryan, director of Methodist
College’s Student Activities, will
always be remembered for his joyous
spirit. He was a dedicated staff
member who worked for Methodist
College for nearly 16 years.
On Wednesday, September
24, Radford, a student who worked
with Ryan, found him unconscious in
his car. Tlie following evening, Chris
Ryan was pronounced dead at age
41. According to public relations
director, Cynthia Curtis, medical
examiners have yet to release infor
mation regarding Ryan’s cause of
death.
A memorial service was held
the following Sunday in the Reeves
Auditorium on campus where over
200 students, faculty, staff, family and
alumni mourned his loss. A collage
hangs in the auditorium where those
who knew and loved Chris could
write their final good byes.
As Director of Student Activi
ties, Ryan was involved in every type
of activity on campus including:
sporting events, student government
and student entertainment. He also
planned a trip to Key West every
spring break.
According to Radford, “Chris
was the best thing that ever hap
pened to Methodist. Many things
have been started here and are now
a tradition because of Chris.”
Ryan is credited for starting the
Academic Development Center, and
the Counseling Center. He also
helped establish Union Station as the
SAC headquarters.
Mr. Ryan, who grew up in
Raleigh and graduated from Barton
College, lived at 500 Foxlair Drive,
Fayetteville, NC 28311 where
money can be sent to the Ryan
Children Trust Fund.
Students who worked with
Ryan on the Student Activity Com-
continuea on page 2