Howard R. Ryan- 1931 (1909-1975)
Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990
Howie Ryan, a member of a well known Truro sports family, was a most gifted athlete in rugby, hockey and track and field, at Acadia from the fall of ’27 to the spring of ’31.
As a member of Coach Fred Kelly’s rugby squad of ’27, Ryan and teammates competed in the Halifax City League against such competition as the legendary Halifax Wanderers. In the fall of ’28 –in the presence of team members Jimmie Wilson and Verne Eville –Howie sparkled in a 3-0 Acadia victory over the Wanderers. In a ’29 season 9-5 loss to Dalhousie, Acadia’s points were scored by Ryan who reportedly “made the longest run seen in Halifax in twenty years.” The fall of ’30 saw him again in top form. In a 16-3 conquest of the Truro Bearcats, Ryan scored all of the Acadia team’s tries. In a .6-3 loss to the Wanderers, Acadia’s lone try came on a “dazzling run” by Ryan. For his efforts, Howie was named to Coach Kelly’s 1927 to 1937 all-star team.
In hockey, Howie was perhaps even more effective. During the winter of 1930, Acadia won the Valley League title as he shared the accolades with team captain Jack Buckley and Carroll “Gint” Cain.
Despite his heroics in rugby and hockey, it was in track and field that Howie Ryan became a household name and Howie often emerged as the No.1 point getter at the major meets.
At Acadia’s interclass competition of 1930, the Juniors, led by Ryan, Cain and Comeau, captured first place, with Howie surpassing Eville by two points for high individual honours. In the Maritime Intercollegiate meet of that spring, Acadia carried off premier honours for the second year in succession. At Raymond Field, on May 17, the main feature was waged between Ryan and Eville for the meet’s top individual winner. Howie gained 22 1/2 points to Vern’s 20 1/2. At the same time, Ryan set a tri-province record in the hop, step and jump.
On May 16, 1931, Acadia, for the third year in .a row, won the Maritime Track and Field title. In the midst of drizzling rain, Ryan broke his own hop, step and jump record with a mark of 41’7″. He also gained first place in the broad jump, while placing second in a couple of dashes. As a result, he again was the nieet’s top individual scorer, having accumulated 18 1/2 points.
It is a privilege to add to the Acadia SportC3 Hall of Fame, the name of the late Howard R. Ryan . ..a graduate of 1931.
