In Memoriam - Bill Enslin

Bill Enslin 1944-2006

All of us at the Land Information Access Association mourn the loss of our dear friend, mentor, colleague, and Board member, William (Bill) Enslin. A creative and highly-respected leader in the geospatial sciences, Bill was also a gentle, warm and compassionate man.

Bill is well known for helping to make geographic information system (GIS) software available and useful to local governments and nonprofit organizations all across our state. As a talented computer programmer and geographer, he led the development of software that made GIS affordable and accessible in Michigan, including C-Map, Landscan, and Michigan MapImageViewer.

Bill was a dedicated employee of Michigan State University for 30 years, including work as a lead researcher, project director, manager of the Center for Remote Sensing, and a trusted advisor at the Remote Sensing & GIS Research and Outreach Services.

Bill had a deep and abiding interest in helping people understand and use information technology to better manage and protect our natural resources. In fact, Bill helped launch the Land Information Access Association (LIAA), becoming a founding member of the Board of Directors in 1993. Serving continuously from that time on, he helped to guide the development of this nonprofit community service organization as a member of the Executive Committee, Treasurer and President.

Bill was a supportive, patient, and kind man to all of us at LIAA. Indeed, his smile was contagious. We will greatly miss our dear friend Bill.