[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 161 (Thursday, September 17, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5702-S5703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     HONORING RYAN PHILLIP HENDRIX

  Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Sheriff 
Deputy Ryan Phillip Hendrix, 34, of Hendersonville who passed away on 
Thursday, September 10, 2020, while in the line of duty. He was born 
December 9, 1985, in Asheville, North Carolina to his parents Donald L. 
and Heidi J. Hendrix. Ryan was a devoted Christian and attended Grace 
Blue Ridge Church with Pastor Chas Morris.
  Shortly after graduating from Hendersonville Christian School in 
2004, Ryan enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps and graduated as a lance 
corporal marine in 2005. He was in the Marine Reserves for 5 years and 
volunteered to serve a tour of duty in Iraq in 2006. Ryan began his 
career with the Henderson County Sheriff's Office as a detention 
officer in June 2012. In May 2015, he completed basic law enforcement 
training and became a patrol deputy and later a field training officer.

[[Page S5703]]

He was an active member of the Henderson County Sheriff's Office SWAT 
team and was assigned as a patrol detective to Charlie Squad.
  Ryan excelled in sports, especially baseball and soccer, and enjoyed 
fishing, hunting, biking, kayaking, and camping. Ryan's children, 
Elloree and Merritt, were the love of his life and always his greatest 
priority. He spent all of his free time with them and continually 
involved them in outdoor activities. He enjoyed teaching them how to 
raise animals and spending time with their extended family of 
grandparents, aunts and uncles, and many cousins.
  Ryan had a keen instinct and could see things most couldn't. He was 
swift to action and was very intuitive while possessing a magnanimous 
heart. He would choose not to fight with a fool, but rather help them 
to find a better way. Ryan loved to bring humor to every situation, and 
even during the roughest times, you would always see a smile on his 
face.
  Ryan tragically lost his life during the early morning hours of 
September 10, 2020, while in the line of duty. As the world slept, Ryan 
responded to assist a family in need of help when they became innocent 
victims of a violent encounter.
  We all know the tragic outcome, but Ryan refused to let the story end 
there. While his death will leave a giant void in the hearts of those 
who love him, he continues to exemplify a servant's heart even in 
passing. Ryan was also an organ donor and will continue helping 
strangers for a lifetime, even after making the ultimate sacrifice. He 
was doing the job he was born to do and died doing the job he loved.
  As the U.S. Senator from North Carolina, I am forever grateful for 
Ryan's service to our State and Nation. He gave his life protecting his 
fellow citizens, and we will never forget the sacrifice he made.

                          ____________________