Lura Lynn Ryan, wife of imprisoned Illinois guv, dies

Lura Lynn Ryan, 76, the wife of former Illinois Govenor George H. Ryan, died of cancer last night in her hometown of Kankakee. George Ryan is serving a prison sentence for corruption at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. Ryan's attorney, another former Republican governor, Jim Thompson, had been attempting to have Ryan released from prison early--citing Lura Lynn's health.

While serving as Illinois' first lady, Lura Lynn kept a low profile, although she served on the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. But she could not escape her husband's corruption shadow. While her husband was Illinois' secretary of state, an employee of the office claims she handed Ms. Ryan a letter laying out the details of criminality at a driver's license facility--two years later Lura Lynn said she didn't recall receiving the letter.

Pat Hickey offers a tribute.

Rest in peace.

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