Vince Ryan has served as Harris County Attorney since 2009. The Harris County Attorney is the civil lawyer for Harris County, related governmental entities and their officials. But the ultimate clients are the people of Harris County.
A Houston native, Vince served in the ROTC while attending the University of Houston. Upon graduation he became an active duty officer in the United States Army, first serving in Europe and then volunteering for service in Vietnam. He returned to active duty for Operation Just Cause which ousted the dictator of Panama in 1990. After his service in Vietnam, Vince left active duty and attended the University of Houston Law School. While practicing law, Vince attended Rice University and received a Master’s Degree in History. He also remained in the Army Reserve and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Vince first began working in the County Attorney’s Office under Mike Driscoll and served as an Assistant County Attorney and First Assistant County Attorney from 1981 to 1987. He left to begin three terms on Houston City Council in 1988. Following his Council service, Vince was appointed to the Board of the Panama Canal Commission which oversaw the Canal and its historic transition to Panama on December 31, 1999. During and following his service on the Panama Canal Commission, Vince was associated with several prominent Houston law firms and continued his community involvement, serving on various boards.
Vince is married to Pam Rodriguez; they have three sons. Vince is and has been involved in many community and non-profit organizations.
Vince Ryan has been very successful and has had a great impact on Harris County. Lebanon Times Magazine conducted the following interview at the Office of Vince Ryan County Attorney:
- What characteristics did you acquire from your days as an active duty officer in the United States Army?
From my initial training in ROTC (Reserve Officer Training Corps) at the University of Houston, duty and service to others were the hallmarks of my time as an active and then Reserve Army officer. I often remind myself and explain to others, I spent about the same time on my initial active duty tour with assignments in then West Germany and South Vietnam as I later did in law school, but I learned much, much more about life and responsibility to others in the Army.
- Before your current role in Harris County, you served on the Houston City Council. What characteristics did you acquire from this time of public service?
Before I was elected to Houston City Council, I served seven years in the County Attorney’s office, 4 ½ as the First Assistant. County government and the City of Houston, which truly has the strongest “strong” mayor form in the United States, are the two extremes of local government in America. County government has many elected officials, each with direct responsibility over certain areas. At the City of Houston, the Council is a purely legislative body with each member having one vote. Because of that dynamic, I learned to better listen to others, work with others, and learn from others.
- Do you consider yourself to be the attorney that stands up for the rights of the County or the rights of its residents?
Our office represents the people of Harris County by and through the other elected and appointed officials of Harris County government. The best interests of the people of Harris County are our “bottom line.”
- What was the most memorable lawsuit you won?
The most memorable and important case in my career in the County Attorney’s office was Driscoll versus Harris County Commissioners Court in 1984 when I was Mike Driscoll’s First Assistant. The then Commissioners Court wanted to hire outside lawyers from the then two biggest private law firms in Houston to handle the legal work for the newly created Harris County Toll road Authority. Mike was running for his first reelection and his first wife, who had been his campaign manager, was battling cancer from which she later died. Every consultant and political figure told Mike to let the Court hire their own attorneys and then Mike could concentrate on caring for his wife and winning reelection. Mike chose to fight as the attorney for the people of Harris County and three attorneys in the office litigated against all odds and won – assuring that the people of Harris County would be represented by their elected County Attorney.
- What is the most common type of case brought against Harris County?
Our office of over 100 attorneys handles virtually every type of legal matter for the people of Harris County by and through their other elected and appointed officials from complicated state and federal trials to day to day advice on contracts and on the routine operations of County government. And, very importantly, our office represents the state and local efforts in child protective matters.
- Do you think that there is justice in today’s world?
While America has and is the “Beacon” for liberty throughout the world, even here the fight for liberty is an ongoing one. Too much of the world, unfortunately, is ”ruled” by despots and has little history of liberty and justice.
- Which is more powerful: wealth or justice?
Wealth also is too often more powerful than justice. Even in the United States we have a constant struggle to assure that justice is not dependent solely on the ability to hire the best attorneys.
- What are your future plans and ambitions? Do you plan on running for another office?
I do not have plans to run for any other office and was privileged to have been reelected this past year. I will decide my future plans in late 2019. My ambition continues – to be the best County Attorney I can be for my clients, the people of Harris County.
- If you were the journalist conducting this interview, what would be your headline of choice for this interview?
Vince Ryan – Always Striving to Serve.