Obituaries

James N. Ryan passed away on May 8, 2016 at 10:27 AM in Clarksburg, WV; known by friends and family as Jim.

He was born on September 13, 1931 in Mattoon, IL, a son of the late Cornelius Ryan and Helen Harris Ryan.

Jim served in the Korean War and was a proud U.S. Marine. He received two battle stars for his part in the Chosin Reservoir, and the unit received a presidential citation. After his honorable discharge, he worked in a variety of field-level jobs in the oil and gas industry in Texas.

Ryan then attended the University of Houston, graduating in 1956 with a degree in business.

In his early career, he managed other people’s drilling and production operations and in 1962, became president of Delta Producing Corp. Delta was taken public and became Petroleum Development Corporation.

Mr. Ryan co-founded PDC in 1969, served as President of the Company from 1969 until 1983, and served as Chairman of the Board and CEO from 1983 though his retirement in 2003. During his tenure, the company grew from a small operation with a handful of West Virginia wells to a multi-state operation with over 2,200 wells in seven states. He was oilman of the year in both Tennessee (1977) and West Virginia (1993). In 1999, Mr. Ryan was selected by Ernst & Young as the West Virginia Entrepreneur of the Year. Under Mr. Ryan’s guidance, PDC was selected for the US Chamber of Commerce Blue Chip Enterprise Initiative Award, twice as one of Forbes Magazine “America’s Best 200 Small Companies,” twice by Fortune as one of “America’s Fastest Growing Small Companies.” In addition, the company was honored by Hart’s Oil and Gas World for the “Best Environmental Project” in the Northeast United States in 1995, and five times by the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection with first place in the “Oil and Gas Drilling Reclamation Awards” for the Company’s environmental performance.

Mr. Ryan was Past President of IOGA. He was a member of the Clarksburg Moose Club, American Legion Bridgeport Post 68, John Wooton Masonic Lodge Laurel, MS and the Scottish Rites of Ocala, FL.

He is survived by his loving wife Sandra B. Ryan, married on September 21, 1989.

Also surviving are a daughter, Kelly L. Ryan of Bridgeport, WV; and a son, Scott (Kelly) Kiger of Waynesburg, PA; four grandchildren, Heather D’Annunzio of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, James D’Annunzio of Clarksburg, WV, Jade Kiger of Morgantown, WV, and Elijah Kiger of Waynesburg, PA.

Family and friends may call at the Amos Carvelli Funeral Home 201 Edison Street, Nutter Fort, on Monday, May 9, 2016 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. with the service being held at the conclusion of visitation.

There will be a private graveside service held at the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Mt. Morris, PA.

Expressions of sympathy may be extended to the family at www.amoscarvelli.com A service of Amos Carvelli Funeral Home.