Bill Loy
1936 - 2003
University of Oregon geography professor William (Bill) Loy died on 25 November 2003, of complications from cancer. He was 67. After completing graduate degrees in geography at the University of Chicago and the University of Minnesota, Bill went on to carve out a thirty-year career at the University of Oregon. A noted cartographer, Bill served as Director and Cartographer for two editions of the Atlas of Oregon. Both atlases won numerous awards, including the Globe Book Award from the Association of American Geographers (2001) and the Best Book and Atlas Award from the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (2002). They have served as models for many other state atlases.
Bill was an extraordinarily active AAG member, leading membership drives in his region and supporting AAG initiatives throughout his career. He also was one of the country’s most influential teachers of cartography, mentoring a number of students who went on to carve out distinguished professional careers as mapmakers. For his work in this and other areas, Bill received numerous awards, including the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Oregon (2002), Oregon Scientist of the Year from the Oregon Academy of Science (1997), and the Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Pacific Coast Geographers (1991). Memorial contributions may be made to University of Oregon Foundation Geography Department (https://geography.uoregon.edu).
William Loy (Necrology). 2004. AAG Newsletter 39(1): 15.