Richard Bryan

For the English rugby union player, see Richard Bryan (rugby union).

Richard Bryan
United States Senator from Nevada
In office January 3, 1989 – January 3, 2001
Preceded by	Chic Hecht
Succeeded by	John Ensign
Chairman of the Select Committee on Ethics
In office January 3, 1993 – January 3, 1995
Preceded by	Terry Sanford
Succeeded by	Mitch McConnell
25th Governor of Nevada
In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1989
Lieutenant	Bob Cashell Bob Miller
Preceded by	Robert List
Succeeded by	Bob Miller
27th Attorney General of Nevada
In office 1979–1983
Governor	Robert List
Preceded by	Robert List
Succeeded by	Brian McKay
Personal details
Born	July 16, 1937 (1937-07-16) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Bonnie Fairchild
Profession	Attorney

Richard Hudson "Dick" Bryan (born July 16, 1937) is an American politician. He served as the 25th Governor of the U.S. state of Nevada from 1983 to 1989. He is a former United States Senator from Nevada. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life

Bryan was born in Washington, D.C. and graduated from the University of Nevada at Reno in 1959 where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega. He earned his law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law. In 1963 he was admitted to the Nevada Bar.

Political career

1972-1989

Bryan served as a member of the Nevada Senate from 1972 to 1978. In 1979 Bryan became the Nevada Attorney General, and served in the position until 1983. Bryan was the Governor of Nevada between 1983 and 1989.

U.S. Senate (1989-2001)

After that, he represented Nevada in the U.S. Senate from 1989 until 2001. Senator Bryan served on the following Senate Committees: Finance, Banking, and Commerce. He chose not to run for re-election in 2000.

Senator Bryan managed to kill NASA's SETI project for the scientific search of extraterrestrial civilizations against the opinion of thousands of scientists, including Carl Sagan, and several Nobel prize winners. "The Great Martian Chase," he said, "may finally come to an end. As of today millions have been spent and we have yet to bag a single little green fellow. Not a single Martian has said take me to your leader, and not a single flying saucer has applied for FAA approval."

External links

• Richard Bryan at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• How Richard Bryan destroyed the NASA's SETI project
• Richard H Bryan's current professional page

Legal offices
Preceded by Robert List	Attorney General of Nevada 1979 – 1983	Succeeded by Brian McKay
Political offices
Preceded by Robert List	Governor of Nevada 1983 – 1989	Succeeded by Bob Miller
Preceded by Terry Sanford	Chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee 1993 – 1995	Succeeded by Mitch McConnell
United States Senate
Preceded by Chic Hecht	United States Senator (Class 1) from Nevada 1989 – 2001 Served alongside: Harry Reid	Succeeded by John Ensign