CHICAGO -- Governor George H. Ryan today congratulated Raymond R. Coffey on 38 years of service in the windy city working on newspaper business and announced that Thursday, December 30, 1999 will be proclaimed as Raymond R. Coffey Day.

"Many have said that Ray Coffey is an indelible name in Chicago journalism and that when you read his columns one hears the voice of Chicago," Ryan said. "To that I will add that the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times newspapers are all the better for having Ray Coffey's name appear on their pages."

At the age of 70 years old, Coffey will end his journalism career after working as a columnist and editorial board member at the Chicago Sun-Times from 1987 through 1999. Most of his newspaper days were spent with the Chicago Daily News from 1961 to 1978. Before signing on with the Sun-Times, Coffey began working at the Tribune in 1978.

Since before Ryan joined government service, the governor noted that Coffey has been reporting on political events and even worked at the UPI bureau in Springfield. Although he grew up in Racine, WI, Coffey adopted Chicago as his hometown and raised his seven children there with his wife, Holly.

"I consider it an honor to be able to name a day on behalf of a civic-minded, compassionate journalist like Ray Coffey, " Ryan said. "And I challenge all aspiring journalists to look to Ray for inspiration on how to do it right. To Ray, I want to say thank you. The newspaper business is better today because you were a part of it."