Lynn Nolan Ryan, Jr.
Principal Owner

Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. was born on January 31, 1947 in Refugio, Texas. When Ryan was six-weeks-old, his family moved to Alvin where he grew up and lived with his wife of 39 years, Ruth, also a native of Alvin. The couple moved to Georgetown in the spring of 2003.

In 1965, after graduating from Alvin High School, Nolan signed a professional baseball contract with the New York Mets, and was assigned to rookie-league in Marion, Virginia. One year later he was pitching in the Major Leagues, debuting with the Mets on September 11, 1966. Thus began his illustrious 27-year big league career, which included four teams – the Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. During a career which spanned four decades, Ryan set or eclipsed 51 major league pitching records, including seven no-hitters and 5,714 career strikeouts.

Along with his many on-field accomplishments, Ryan has the unique distinction of being the only player in Major League history to have his uniform number retired by three different teams – the Angels, Astros and Rangers. On January 5, 1999, the Baseball Writers Association of America awarded Ryan the ultimate recognition when he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, by 98.79 percent of the vote, second highest of all time. Also in 1999, baseball fans across America voted Ryan to the All-Century Team.

Following his retirement from baseball, Ryan was able to further pursue his business ventures. He has owned two banks, the Express Bank in Alvin, Texas, and the Express Bank of Texas located in Round Rock. He also owns Nolan Ryan’s Waterfront Restaurant near Three Rivers, Texas. He is an investor in Nolan Ryan’s Tender Aged Beef, which is available as a concession item at Dell Diamond. Nolan also owns and operates several cattle ranches in South Texas. 

In May of 1998, Ryan joined his son, Reid, friend and Houston businessman Don Sanders, and a group of investors in bringing a professional baseball franchise to Central Texas by purchasing the Jackson (Miss.) Generals and moving the team to Round Rock. In 2005, Round Rock became professional baseball’s newest Triple-A franchise with the purchase and relocation of the Edmonton Trappers. Also in 2005, Ryan Sanders Baseball created a new Double-A club in Corpus Christi (Hooks) that is a member of the Texas League. Both the Express and the Hooks have won Texas League championships.

In February of 2004, Nolan agreed to a personal services contract with the Houston Astros, re-joining the franchise as a consultant. He pitched for the Astros from 1980 through 1988. On February 6, 2008, Ryan was named President of the Texas Rangers by Rangers’ owner Tom Hicks. He pitched for the Rangers for the final five seasons of his 27-year playing career, recording two no-hitters with the club.

In addition to his baseball interests, Ryan is involved in many civic groups including serving on the Boards of Directors of the Nolan Ryan Foundation, the Texas Rangers Foundation, the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, The American Breeders Coalition, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Foundation Board of Trustees and the Alvin Community College Baseball Scholarship Fund.

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

Ryan divides his time between his two offices in Arlington and Round Rock and his ranches in Gonzales and McMullen County. Spending time with his family remains one of Ryan’s top priorities.