Ryan
Phil Ryan, a decorated Texas Ranger who later served three terms as Wise County Sheriff and helped restore professionalism and public trust to the Sheriff’s Office, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, at the age of 80, following a battle with heart disease.
Born in Oklahoma and raised in the Houston area, Ryan began his law enforcement career with the Pasadena Police Department in 1966 before joining the Texas Department of Public Safety in 1968. He served as a highway patrolman in Cleveland, Woodville, Bonham and Decatur, and was later promoted to sergeant in Humble. In 1979, he was commissioned as a Texas Ranger and assigned to Wise County.
During nine years stationed in Decatur, Ryan investigated major crimes throughout Wise, Jack, Montague and Clay counties and earned national recognition for his case work. He received two Purple Hearts during his DPS career after being shot as a young trooper and later stabbed in the line of duty while serving as a Ranger.
Ryan was elected Wise County Sheriff in 1992 at a time when the department faced significant public scrutiny. He went on to serve three terms, rebuilding the agency and modernizing its operations. Among his accomplishments were the creation of a crime prevention division, implementation of 24-hour patrol and dispatch, the Wise Eyes program, a jail industries program, formation of a mounted patrol and color guard, development of an in-house vehicle maintenance program and the introduction of the department’s first computer network. Colleagues credit him with establishing the culture of integrity, professionalism and community service that continues within the sheriff’s office today.
He was known as a mentor to generations of local officers and a respected leader in North Texas law enforcement. Ryan was also a Freemason and a member of First Baptist Church of Decatur.
Survivors include his children, Phil Ryan, Jr. and wife, Malia, Ronda Ryan Schweiger and husband, Chip, and Daryle Ryan and wife, Amy; stepdaughter, Courtney Hair and husband, Larin; sister, Karen Martinez; grandchildren, Phillip III, Chelsea, Michael, Makenzie, Devin, Kristen, Thomas, Delisa, Jonathan, Nathan, Micah, Maddox, Gentry and Dally; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Charlca; brothers, Tommy, Jimmy and Rex; and sisters, Ruby, Alberta and Mary.
A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2026, at First Baptist Church of Decatur.
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