# 1 - - Published in the Enterprise December 3, 1931

LOCAL MAN LOSES LIFE; STRUCK BY ONCOMING TRUCK WHILE ADJUSTING HIS TRUCK CHAINS

DIES IN HOSPITAL NEXT DAY FROM INJURIES RECEIVED

LEAVES WIFE AND BABY

Geo. W. Ryan of this city was struck Saturday morning at 3 A.M. on highway 73, about five miles north of Blair.

He was in the trucking business and had gotten out of this truck to tighten his chains when a man by the name of Raymond Hasner, driver for H. W. Nelson Transfer Co. struck him while adjusting his chains. He was hurried to an Omaha hospital where he passed away Sunday afternoon, Nov. 29.

An inquest is being conducted at the court house and up to the time of going to press the question has just been presented to the jury.

George W. Ryan was born Feb. 22, 1904 in the Rose Hill neighborhood wet of Blair. His mother died when he was eleven days old and he was taken into the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Ryan, his grandparents. Here he grew to manhood attending school both in the country and a Herman.

He came to Blair about six years ago and for the past four years has been engaged in the trucking business. He was married to Miss Dorothy Jones April 17, 1929, and the new home was established in Blair. Into this home came one son, Geo. Jr.

He died Sunday afternoon Nov. 29, 1931 in a hospital at Omaha, aged 27 years, 9 months and 7 days.

# 2 - - published in the Fort Calhoun Chronicle December 3, 1931

George Ryan of Blair was killed on highway 73, about 5 miles north of Blair, Sunday. He was tightening the chain on a wheel of his truck when a truck from Lyons struck him. He was taken to a hospital in Omaha, but died soon after reaching there.

# 3 - - published in the Pilot-Tribune December 3, 1931

INJURIES ARE FATAL TO GEORGE W. RYAN

POPULAR TRANSFER OPERATOR PASSES AWAY SUNDAY AFTERNOON

This community was shocked by the death of George W. Ryan, of this city who passed away at an Omaha hospital Sunday afternoon from injuries he suffered in an accident north of Blair early Saturday morning. Funeral services were conducted from the Methodist church Tuesday afternoon with the Rev. Jackson, officiating, after which interment was made in the Blair Cemetery.

According to Carl H. Bohs, who was an eye witness to the accident, he, Mr. Ryan and Ryan’s employee, Elmer Jensen, left Blair about 1:00 o’clock Saturday morning in two trucks belonging to Ryan to haul some hogs to market for Boh’s father, Andrew Bohs. Ryan was driving his large truck ahead of Jensen and Bohs followed him in the smaller truck. When they came near the John Compton farm a few miles north of Blair, both trucks drew alongside the road to put on chains. Bohs stated that chains had been put on the front truck as well as the right wheel of the rear truck and the men were engaged in putting on the chain on the left wheel when the accident occurred. Bohs said that he was under the truck attempting to fasten the chain and Ryan was on the outer side tightening the chain when a huge truck, the property of the Nelson Transfer of Lyons, struck the rear end of the Ryan truck, the wheel of the Nelson truck crushing the middle of Ryan’s body. A passing autoist took Ryan to the Blair hospital where he was given treatment and Saturday noon he was removed to the Omaha hospital.

The deceased was born February 22, 1904, in the Rose Hill neighborhood and had spent his entire life in Washington County. His mother died when he was eleven day old and he was raised by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. James Ryan. He attended county school and the high school at Herman and about six years ago he moved to Blair where he has since been engaged in the transfer business. April 17, 1929, he was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy Jones of this city and to this union a son, George, Jr., was born. “Bub” as he was better known to his many friends, was very popular and was highly respected for his integrity and fairness.

Surviving him are his bereaved wife and son; his grandmother, Mrs. James Ryan, who made her home with him; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Ryan of Herman; a brother, Harold of Herman; and two sisters, Mrs. Letha Hook, of Mt. Clemis, Mich., and Hazel of Herman.

A coroner’s inquest was held last evening at which the jury decided that Raymond Hasner, driver of the truck, should be held. The jury was composed of Bill McDonald, Walter Petersen, A.A. Compton, Henry Christensen, Claire Warrick and William Quinlan. No witnesses were at the Wednesday hearing and the jury was out for one hour.