[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 117 (Thursday, July 18, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING DEPUTY SHERIFF RYAN HENDRIX

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHUCK EDWARDS

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 18, 2024

  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Deputy 
Sheriff Ryan Hendrix.
  A lifelong resident of Western North Carolina, Ryan dedicated his 
life to the service of his county, his community, and his cherished 
family.
  Ryan was born in Asheville on December 9, 1985, the son of Donald and 
Heidi Hendrix. As a Christian, Ryan faithfully served his Lord by 
regularly attending Grace Blue Ridge Church with Pastor Chas Morris.
  He graduated from Hendersonville Christian School in 2004. Through 
the school's mission trip program, Ryan cultivated the passion for 
service he demonstrated throughout his life. Ryan went on mission trips 
to border towns in Mexico and worked to better the lives of children.
  At 19 years old, Ryan enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps. He trained 
at Parris Island where he was a squad leader and a sharpshooter. He 
graduated as a Lance Corporal Marine in 2005 and served in the Marine 
Reserves for five years. In 2006, Ryan volunteered to serve a tour of 
duty in Iraq.
  Ryan began his career with the Henderson County Sheriff's Office as a 
detention officer in June 2012. In May 2015, Ryan became a patrol 
deputy upon completing Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET), and he 
later became a field training officer. He was an active member of the 
SWAT team and served the Henderson County Sheriff's Office for a total 
of eight years. Ryan loved his work and serving the local community.
  Ryan excelled in sports, especially baseball and soccer, and enjoyed 
being outdoors. On his days off, he would often go fishing, hunting, 
biking, and camping.
  While Ryan's dedication to serving his community and others is beyond 
dispute, he reserved the largest piece of his heart for his two 
children, Elloree and Merritt. He spent all his days off with his 
children and continuously shared his passion for being outdoors with 
them. They, along with their mother, Emily, Ryan's fiancee, were the 
love of his life and always his greatest priority.
  On September 10, 2020, Deputy Hendrix tragically lost his life in the 
line of duty. The loss of Ryan has left a hole in many hearts of those 
who love him and whose lives he touched.
  Today, we honor Ryan with the renaming of the U.S. 64 bridge over 
Interstate 26 as the ``Deputy Ryan P. Hendrix Bridge.''
  Ryan's life and his legacy--his courage, his bravery, and his 
dedication to service--shall forever serve as a reminder to North 
Carolinians that freedom isn't free.

                          ____________________