jackryan kimball

John W. (Jack) Ryan - Kimball, SD

Jack Ryan, Publisher, Editor

Kimball, South Dakota

Ryan Family Genealogy

“Echoes of the Past” was published in 1980 in connection with Kimball’s centennial celebration. This book is dedicated to all the editors of newspapers that have served the Kimball community. “Without their untiring efforts and foresight to put down in print the happenings of their day, this book would have been impossible to publish”. Later you will read portions from this book written about Jack Ryan.

Of course anyone familiar with the Kimball newspaper business knows our relative, John W. (Jack) Ryan, was publisher and editor of the Brule County News for many years. Jack died in 1980, which was the same year this book was published. Many of us have fond memories of Uncle Jack. As children we spent many days reading old newspapers in Jack’s business, or watching him work on the old linotype. We remember how dirty Jack’s fingernails would get working with his newspaper equipment. Later, Jack retired the linotype and replaced it with a modern printing system (see middle picture below). Who can forget Jack’s houseboat? After Sunday Mass Jack might take you to Cahill’s Corner. He would have a beer and we’d have nuts. Conversations with Jack were always interesting. We would laugh, talk about current events, or hatch plans to take over the newspaper business in South Dakota! When time allowed, Jack and Irene enjoyed bowling and golfing.

When visiting Kimball we stayed with our grandparents, Frank and Adelaide Ryan. The kids (minus any babies) slept upstairs in the southwest corner of the house. The room had several beds and an old Singer sewing machine. From the west window we could see the Duba home and the tobacco plants growing in their garden. I remember Jack and his brother, Neal, living with their parents. Later, Jack married Irene Hanten and moved to his own home.

Jack certainly was one of our favorite uncles.

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The following information was taken from the book titled “Echoes of the Past”:

Page IX X

In 1947, Mr. Lowe (C. C. Lowe) sold out to John W. (Jack) Ryan. The Kimball Graphic was also purchased by Jack in 1951 from Walter Fox and the papers were combined into one weekly paper. In 1951 the Pukwana Press Reporter was also purchased by Mr. Ryan. Mr. Lowe died on December 6, 1961, and his wife died five weeks later.

When Jack took over the newspaper business in 1947, subscriptions sold for $1.50 a year. In 1976 the rates had increased to $5.00 and by 1980 rates are $6.00. The present office personnel include Jack and Irene Ryan, Mrs. Butch Foltz and Mrs. Phil Wernsmann.

Shortly after completing the newspaper story the community was saddened on February 4, 1980, by the sudden death of publisher, John W. (Jack) Ryan. His wife, Irene is carrying on the responsibility of publishing the weekly paper.

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This eulogy was read at the funeral of Jack Ryan on February 8, 1980. It was written and read by a nephew, V. J. Smith.

And for whom does the bell toll today? Who is this man we gather to say farewell to? Where did he come from, and when did he leave us? And what did he do and what had he done?

Don’t worry we say for Uncle Jack will tell us. Sure as the morning sun, Uncle Jack will let us know for he has been telling us for years. Uncle Jack knows who it is.

But wait, this is Uncle Jack. But who will tell your story? For years you have announced our weddings and our births, and visits and our illnesses, our meetings and ball games, our happy moments and our tragedies, our past and our present. This place has never been far away even though miles and years may have separated us. We saw Kimball through your eyes. You have kept us together as one large family.

Each one of us remembers you today in our own special way. Some people remember you as a young man going off to college at a very difficult time. Others remember you serving your country in a time of crisis. And still others remember you as a newspaper man dedicated to keeping people informed of town events.

But we remember you in a different way. Many of your nephews and nieces remember you having to share a room when visiting grandpa and grandma. If your alarm cock didn’t wake you, we would. We recall the man who took time to show us the world of the press and then took our picture to introduce us to the people of Kimball.

So what can we say to this man who has written about us all his life? How are we to thank you for being part of our lives? We can pay tribute to you this day and write of you next week but have we done enough?

Then remember that if you were to talk of your life, little would be said and if you were to write about yourself, the story would be short for that wasn’t your way. Your life was dedicated to telling us about ourselves and for this reason we have all lost somebody special.

Each one of us here has been a part of you and you a part of us. And until that time comes when we shall meet again, we say to you, our Uncle Jack.

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(Editor’s Note: Jack’s pallbearers were his nephews.)