Overview

• George Ryan, who served as Illinois governor from 1999 to 2003, passed away at age 91 after a brief stay in hospice care.
• Ryan's 2003 decision to empty Illinois' death row and declare a moratorium on executions was a pivotal moment in the state's eventual abolition of the death penalty in 2011.
• He was convicted in 2006 on federal charges, including racketeering and conspiracy, stemming from a bribery scandal tied to his time as Illinois secretary of state.
• Ryan served over five years in federal prison, later advocating for criminal justice reform and the removal of lifelong 'felon' labels for ex-offenders.
• The 1994 crash that killed six Willis children, linked to a bribery scheme under Ryan's office, remains a defining tragedy of his career.