Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr.
National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee

Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. was born on January 31, 1947, in Refugio, Texas. When Nolan was six weeks old, his family moved to Alvin, where he grew up and still resides today with his wife, Ruth.

In 1965, after graduating from Alvin High School, Nolan signed a professional baseball contract with the New York Mets and was sent to rookie ball in Marion, Va. By 1968 he was pitching in the Major Leagues, thus beginning his illustrious 27-year career in baseball that included four teams - the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. During his career, which spanned four decades, Nolan set or broke 51 major league records (including seven no-hitters and 5,714 career strikeouts).

Along with his many on-the-field accomplishments, Nolan has the unique distinction of being the only player in major league history to have his uniform number retired by three different teams (Angels, Astros and Rangers). On January 5, 1999, the ultimate recognition was awarded Nolan by the Baseball Writers Association of America as he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Also in 1999, the baseball fans of America voted Nolan to the All-Century Team.

After his retirement, Nolan was able to further pursue his business ventures. He is the principal owner of The Express Bank of Texas in Round Rock, Texas. He owns Nolan Ryan's Waterfront Restaurant near Three Rivers, Texas. In South Texas he also owns and operates several cattle ranches.

In May 1998, Nolan, his son Reid and a group of investors were instrumental in bringing a minor league baseball franchise to Central Texas as they purchased the Jackson Generals, a Houston Astros Double-A affiliate, and moved the team to Round Rock. The Round Rock Express played its first home game on April 16, 2000, at Dell Diamond. In December 1999, Nolan became a limited partner in Beefmaster Cattlemen, LP, a branded beef company that markets Nolan Ryan Tender Aged Beef.

In February 2004, Nolan agreed to a five-year personal services contract with the Houston Astros, re-joining the franchise as a consultant. In 2005, Round Rock will become professional baseball's newest Triple-A franchise with the purchase and relocation of the Edmonton Trappers. The Triple-A club will compete in the 16-team Pacific Coast League. Also in 2005, Round Rock Baseball, Inc. will create a new Double-A club in Corpus Christi, Texas that will be a member of the Texas League.

In 1995, Governor George W. Bush appointed Nolan to a six-year term as a Commissioner with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. Other civic involvements include serving on the Boards of Directors of the Nolan Ryan Foundation, the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, the Natural Resources Foundation of Texas, the Sanders Morris Harris Group, the Texas Beef Council, Ex-Officio of the Beefmaster Breeders United and the Alvin Community College Baseball Scholarship Fund. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Foundation, is currently serving as president of a cattle organization, the American Breeds Coalition, and is a member of the Texas Heart Institute's National Advisory Council.

Nolan's family consists of wife Ruth, son Reid and his wife Nicole, son Reese and his wife Alison, and daughter Wendy. Nolan and Ruth are the proud grandparents of Jackson Ray, Victoria, and Ella, children of Reid and Nicole, and Caroline and Julia, daughters of Reese and Alison.