UPDATED: According to confirmed sources, John Ryder, one of the most formidable and respected political figures in Memphis history, and one who made his mark nationally as well, has died. Word is that the family has asked for privacy.
Ryder, 72, was chairman of the board of the Tennessee Valley Association until August 2021, and served on the board through the end of last year. That was only one of the weighty positions he had ascended to through the years. He was general counsel to the Republican National Committee in 2016-2017, and had been a committeeman of the RNC from Tennessee from 1996 to 2016, with the exception of the years 2004-2008.
In 2010, Ryder chaired the Republican Party’s National Redistricting Committee and was as instrumental as anyone in devising the strategies that earned the Republican Party unprecedented victorious outcomes that year in Tennessee and elsewhere.
Ryder served many years as an assistant county attorney for Shelby County, and had also been a delinquent tax attorney for the county. From 2000 on, he was a member of the Harris Shelton law firm, specializing in bankruptcy, commercial litigation, and election law. For many years he was litigation counsel for the Shelby County Election Commission. Ryder also taught election law at Vanderbilt University.
Ryder had ambitions to serve as an elected official himself, but was foiled in his one try — a race for the Shelby County Commission in 2002 — losing to fellow Republican Bruce Thompson in the GOP primary.
Despite his committed life-long work for the Republican Party, Ryder had many friends across party lines and participated in numerous civic activities, serving, for example, on the Board of Governors for Opera Memphis.
“John was a friend and mentor to me and the people of Shelby County,” said longtime EC president Robert Meyers.“He was cornerstone of the party and of the community,” said current Shelby GOP chairman Cary Vaughn. State Republican chair Scott Golden said, “His unmatched legacy and resume will never be forgotten, and I am fortunate to have called him a friend and mentor.”
University of Memphis law professor Steve Mulroy said, “I’m genuinely saddened to hear of John’s passing. While we were often on opposite sides, I always found him affable, professional, and honest, and I know many of my Democratic friends felt the same way. We had a particular bond as fellow scholars of the law, ones who took that profession’s ideals seriously. I respected his intellect and intellectual honesty, and he was genuinely fun to be around. Like many others, I’ll miss him.”
“I am so saddened to hear about John Ryder’s passing. He was a gentleman and was always lovely to me. I send my deepest condolences to his wonderful wife, Lain, and their family,” said Paula Casey, longtime political activist who chaired the Memphis Suffrage Monument committee.
He leaves his wife, Lain, and daughters, Reagan and Nancy-Kate Ryder.
Visitation will be Sunday, May 22nd, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Canale Funeral Directors. The funeral will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 3245 Central Avenue, on Monday, May 23rd, at 1 p.m. followed by a brief reception in the parish hall.
Memorials may be sent to St. John’s Episcopal Church, Opera Memphis, or Wabash College (301 W. Wabash Avenue, Crawfordsville, IN 47933).
