Leo Ryan
Leo Joseph Ryan, Jr. ( born May 5, 1925 in Lincoln, Nebraska, † November 18, 1978 in Jonestown, Guyana ) was an American politician of the Democratic Party.
Leo Ryan was first a member of the City Council of South San Francisco and in 1962 mayor of this city. From 1962 to 1972 he was a member of the California State Assembly. On January 3, 1973, he went as a delegate of the Eleventh Congressional District of California in the House of Representatives of the United States, where he remained until his violent death in November 1978. He had traveled with journalists and relatives to Guyana to investigate reports of abuse, serious bodily injury and false imprisonment in the camp of the Peoples Temple sect. On his return to his plane, he and other members of champagne attacked and deliberately shot. Later the massacre at Jonestown there was revealed, died in the more than 900 cult members.
He soon moved into a negative position in particular to L. Ron Hubbard and his Scientology movement.
Ryan Foster City dedicated a recreation park. 1983 Golden Congressional Medal of Honor he was awarded posthumously.