A longtime Hamilton businessman, former mayor, and community leader was honored with a street naming ceremony this weekend in Marcum Park. A large crowd including city officials gathered Saturday morning to officially dedicate North Second Street as “Mayor Don Ryan Way” in recognition of Ryan’s decades of service and investment in the city. Ryan, a lifelong Hamilton resident, served on the Hamilton Vision Commission before later serving on City Council and as mayor from 2002 through 2009. City leaders say his work helped lay the foundation for many of Hamilton’s revitalization efforts, including downtown redevelopment, riverfront projects, and neighborhood restoration initiatives. During his time in office, Ryan also supported projects that eventually led to the creation of RiversEdge, the Miami Hamilton Downtown event center, Artspace Apartments, and the Meldahl Hydroelectric Power Plant. Beyond public service, Ryan became one of the early investors in downtown Hamilton’s resurgence when he opened Ryan’s Tavern on High Street in 2008. The restaurant became a gathering place in the city’s downtown district during a time when many businesses were leaving the area. Ryan was recognized by the Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce as Citizen of the Year for Economic Development in 2011. City officials say Ryan’s commitment to Hamilton extended beyond government and business through volunteer work with several local organizations, including the Greater Hamilton Civic Theater, Knights of Columbus, Junior Achievement, and St. Peter’s Church.