Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
June,  1920. 
Frank  G.  Ryan. 
375 
both  innate  and  acquired,  would  have  been  considered  as  romantic. 
In  less  than  seven  years,  from  the  time  that  he  permanently  cast 
his  lot  with  this  corporation,  he  had  been  elected  first,  a  Director, 
then.  Secretary,  next,  Vice-President  and,  finally.  President.  The 
latter  position  he  filled  for  thirteen  years  when  the  Divine  call 
terminated  his  labors.  The  thirteenth  year  would  thus  again  appear 
as  the  completion  of  a  determining  cycle  in  his  career. 
As  vice-president  of  Parke,  Davis  &  Co.,  Mr.  Ryan  made  a  tour 
around  the  world  combining  pleasure  with  business.  While  in 
London,  in  1907,  he  was  entertained  at  a  public  dinner  by  the  leading 
pharmacists  and  prominent  men  connected  with  the  drug  trade. 
Returning  to  America,  he  had  landed  but  a  day  when  President 
Buhl  was  suddenly  stricken  and  Frank  G.  Ryan  was  immediately 
elected  to  fill  the  highest  office  in  the  Company.  As  president  for 
the  intervening  period  he  accomplished  great  things  for  this  house 
and  the  perfected  organization,  the  enormous  developments  along 
scientific  as  well  as  commercial  lines  are  very  largely  attributed  by 
his  associates  to  his  foresight  and  ability  and  to  the  inspiration  of 
his  character  and  policies. 
Frank  G.  Ryan  joined  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association 
in  1892.  He  was  immediately  elected  secretary  of  the  Section  on 
Scientific  Papers  for  the  year  and  in  1 899-1 900  was  chairman  of  this 
Section.  He  served  as  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Weights  and 
Measures  and  made  an  excellent  report  of  the  bills  that  had  been 
introduced  into  Congress  favoring  the  general  adoption  of  the  Metric 
System.  He  was  not  an  office  seeker  and  was  contented  to  give 
his  advice  and  the  weight  of  his  influence  for  the  betterment  of 
pharmacy  without  receiving  personal  recognition.  Such  offices  and 
honors  that  were  accepted  came  unsolicited  and  as  a  recognition  of 
merit.  He  took  an  active  interest  in  the  organization  and  work  of 
the  American  Drug  Manufacturers'  Association  and  for  the  first 
two  years  of  its  existence  served  as  its  President  and  the  success 
and  achievements  of  this  comparatively  young,  yet  exceedingly  active, 
organization  again  demonstrates  and  reflects  the  effect  and  influence 
of  the  master  mind  in  its  formative  period. 
He  filled  an  important  position  in  the  civic  life  of  the  City  of 
Detroit.  He  was  a  member  of  five  of  the  leading  clubs  of  the  city 
and  served  a  term  as  president  of  the  Detroit  Club  and  of  the  Coun- 
try Club.  He  declined  to  accept  a  number  of  public  duties  that 
were  proffered  to  him.     Nevertheless,  he  was  an  intense  student  of 
