H.L. Sy Seyler

Dr. H.L. “Sy” Seyler was born on April 3, 1941, on a farm near Blue Mound, Kansas, the son of Oren and Catherine Barker Seyler. He passed away on October 15, 2024, in Manhattan, Kansas. For 30 years he was associate professor of geography at Kansas State University (KSU), where he directed the College of Arts and Sciences Honors Program for many years and was a member of the Kansas Academy of Science. In the 1980s, his interest in personal computers’ applications to geography led him to customize and network several PCs instead of mainframes for mapping and other functions. This led to him being one of the founders of the Geographic Information Systems Spatial Analysis Laboratory (GISSAL) in 1990.

After earning his Bachelor of Science in geography from KSU the future Dr. Seyler served for two years as a radar operator aboard the USS Whitfield County (LST-1169) during operations in the South China Sea. One of his duties was as postmaster for the amphibious squadron to which his ship was assigned; this involved many trips ashore in South Vietnam.

He returned to KSU for an M.S. in geography and went on to earn his Ph.D. from the University of Indiana, Bloomington. The next 1990s were the most productive of his career, as he trained many graduate and undergraduate students in the theory and practice of GIS. His mentorship and dedication to service created the establishment of the Seyler Undergraduate GIScience Scholarship at Kansas State. This scholarship recognizes his nearly three decades of professional service and contributions to the advancement of geography and geographic information science.

Following retirement, Dr. Seyler spent most summers in the Eastern Sierra of California, where he entertained family and friends. He was a passionate fan of KSU sports; many were amazed by his encyclopedic memory regarding players, coaches, scouting reports, and statistics. His wife Carolyn preceded him in death. He is survived by his son Lynn, daughter-in-law, (Cristina) and two grandchildren, (Garrett and Colleen) all of Overland Park, KS.