Sylvan Lake attorney Thomas J. Ryan was sworn in as the State Bar of Michigan's 66th president on Friday, September 22 during the Bar's Annual Meeting at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit.

Ryan will serve as president of the 33,000-member organization for the 2000-2001 Bar year. He succeeds Immediate Past President Alfred M. Butzbaugh of St. Joseph. Michigan Supreme Court Justice Maura Corrigan will preside over Ryan's swearing-in ceremony.

Ryan is a sole practitioner in Sylvan Lake where his practice focuses on municipal, criminal, probate and real estate law. He is also currently serving as counsel for the Village of Clarkston/City of Clarkston, attorney for the Village of Beverly Hills and City of Keego Harbor, and as prosecuting attorney for Bloomfield and Southfield Townships. He has served on the State Bar's Board of Commissioners since 1992 and rose to the rank of Bar president after serving as secretary (1997-1998), vice president (1998-1999) and president-elect (1999-2000).

Ryan has served as chairperson of the State Bar's Long Range Planning Commissioner Committee, Scope & Correlation, and Awards Committees. He has also served on the Executive, Fiscal, and Legislation Commissioner Committees and as commissioner liaison to the State Bar Officers and Deans of Law Schools of Michigan Committee.

Ryan is a member of the Oakland County Bar Association and has served as its president (1993 to 1994) and on the Board of Directors. He is also a member of the American Bar Association and the Oakland Ancient Order of Hibernians.

Ryan is a 1969 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and received his J.D. from the University of Detroit-Mercy in 1972. He and his wife Colleen Ronayne have five children: Meghan, Brendan, Molly, Maureen and Daniel.