(See below for correction.)
The Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania received a new name on Friday, in honor of the late Matthew Ryan, speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Ryan had advocated for the hospital -- now to be known as the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- for the last three decades and secured state funding for scholarships and grants.
The University Board of Trustees had already decided to rename the hospital on Feb. 21, when Ryan was still alive, and the ceremony was scheduled to take place soon after. However, the ceremony was postponed when Ryan died on Mar. 29 due to complications from cancer.
During his years as speaker of the House, Ryan proposed and supported a number of projects involving the school, including the Commonwealth grant of $18 million, bestowed in 2000 for the institution's new Teaching and Research Building.
The ceremony -- held in the Huntsman Hall Auditorium -- brought together Ryan's family and colleagues, as well as Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, University President Judith Rodin and Dean of Veterinary Medicine Alan Kelly.
Kelly said that the ceremony was "an expression of our admiration to Matt -- a man who despite his power and prestige was the humblest of persons."
He added that Ryan had originally resisted the idea of becoming the school's namesake, but was eventually convinced by his family and Kelly.
"We all lost a friend with Matt's passing, but no one more than the Veterinary School," Kelly said, adding that in Penn's history, only one other member of the state government had a building to his name -- Benjamin Franklin.
Rodin also expressed her respect for Ryan's integrity, both in the political arena and toward the citizens of Pennsylvania -- both human and animal.
"He fought hard, but he fought fair," Rodin said. "It's a great honor and privilege to link the name of the University of Pennsylvania to that of Matt Ryan."
Rodin then introduced Rendell, an old client of the school.
"This is the ceremony that would please him the most," Rendell said, reminding the audience of the school's importance to Pennsylvania and the role that Ryan played in the school's research and teaching efforts.
Next was a member of the Philadelphia Higher Education Assistance Agency, who read a speech by John Perzel -- Ryan's successor as speaker of the House -- in which the politician expressed his condolences to his predecessor's family and colleagues, as well as his admiration for the veterinary school's "world-class status."
Fourth-year graduate student Bridget Stewart then spoke on behalf of her peers about the role Ryan played in the institution of commonwealth scholarships, and how that allowed many students to afford veterinary training -- an "investment" for both Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.
Stewart was followed by Ryan's widow, the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas judge Patricia Jenkins.
"We are very grateful, honored and humbled by this great honor that was bestowed upon Matt," Jenkins said.
The last speaker was Barry Stupine, the director of the veterinary hospital. He called Ryan "a role model" for many people.
