Better Government Association

Willis family, Daley react to Ryan decision

A fatal crash ignited the corruption investigation that led to the charges against former Governor George Ryan.

August 21, 2007 -

Six children from the Willis family died in the fiery crash in 1994 on I-94 near Milwaukee. Officials discovered the driver who caused the crash, Ricardo Guzman, got his commercial drivers license after bribing Ryan's employees. That discovery led to Operation Safe Roads, which eventually led to Ryan's arrest. The Willis family is not celebrating the court's decision to uphold Ryan's conviction, but the man who lost six children said it is time for Ryan to pay for all the corruption that was uncovered.

"It confirms the system does work. It is not a happy thing for us to see a man go to jail," said Scott Willis, whose six children died in the crash.

"Your heart goes out to Mrs. Ryan and the family. She's the one that will have to live with the consequences of this, but, you know, there has to be accountability in this world. And for his misdeeds he'll have to serve time. That's the way the system works," said Joseph Power, Willis family attorney.

Ryan, a Republican, got along with most of the political establishment, including Mayor Richard Daley.

"You extend the best to him- his wife and his family- that's all you can say," said Mayor Daley at a Tuesday news conference.

The fallout from the Ryan case decimated the Illinois Republican Party and most of its candidates. But former Governor Jim Thompson said his old friend and legal client's not to blame for the party's failures.

"I notice the political party is having its problems at the moment. These things happen," said former Governor Jim Thompson, Ryan's lawyer.

The Better Government Association said in a statement Tuesday Ryan has never apologized or accepted responsibility for any of his misdeeds, but still has time before he reports to prison.

Scott Willis and his wife, Janet, are also waiting for an apology. They said an apology is all it would take to forgive Ryan.