Landscape Architect Articles

LASN 40th: Kay Tiller (1925-1999)07-22-25 | Feature

LASN 40th: Kay Tiller (1925-1999)

LASN Remembers
by Mike Dahl, LASN Contributing Editor

Kay eventually became an important part of the LASN editorial staff as executive regional editor, applying her passions for writing, photography, and landscape architecture to product content for LASN for over 12 years. Nadine Paul (left), Kay Tiller (center), and Cortland Paul (right) were close friends.

Kay attended ASLA conventions consecutively for over 20 years. Pictured here, from left to right, are Mary Jane Woerner, Kay, Willa Papandrew, ASLA Presidents Medal recipient Roy Dunn, and Bob Woerner, FASLA. (Photo: Tom Papandrew, past ASLA president)

Kay and George Schmok, publisher of LASN, embrace at an unidentified ASLA trade show. The two first met at a landscape industry convention in Texas - beginning a long friendship. Kay eventually became an important part of the LASN editorial staff as executive regional editor, applying her passions for writing, photography, and landscape architecture to produce content for the magazine for over 12 years.

While indulging her passions for landscape architecture, traveling, and making friends, Kay Tiller shared her considerable writing and photography skills with LASN readers for 12+ years as an executive regional editor for the magazine.

Her road to that destination began with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Texas in 1946 followed by newspaper positions in Texas and Mississippi. In 1970, Kay landed at a public relations company in Richardson, Texas. Four years later, she went into business for herself. One of her first clients was the landscape architecture firm Myrick, Newman, Dahlberg and Partners.

Thus began Kay's longstanding commitment to the industry, especially as a strong advocate of the ASLA. She served on the Texas chapter's Executive Committee and oversaw their newsletter for 15 years. Later, she was a member of the national ASLA's Long-Range Planning Committee. The University of Texas at Arlington subsequently invited her to join their landscape architecture advisory board.

Roy Dunn, ASLA President's Medal recipient, recalls Kay's enduring support: "Her continual attendance at annual meetings as well as her yeoman work for the Texas Chapter of ASLA is testament to that. I know of very few non-Landscape Architects that have given as much to this profession as Kay has."

"She had an understanding of our profession that many of us will never have," LASN technology editor Scott Weinberg, FASLA stated. "She understood what we were trying to do as stewards of the land."

Kay was instrumental in recruiting individuals into the field, as ASLA PA/DE Chapter past president W. Michael Leigh related: "I met her in 1983 at the ASLA National Convention in Indianapolis when I was in my first year of college at Ohio State. I know that part of my decision (to switch to landscape architecture) was having the honor to meet Kay Tiller."

Her legacy is fortified by the Kay Tiller Scholarship for Landscape Architecture.

"Kay almost burst with pride when she told me about the scholarship," expressed Lloyd Reeder, president of GreenLee Lighting. "Being honored thrilled Kay beyond words."

Click here to see this entry in the LASN 40th Anniversary Timeline.

As seen in LASN magazine, July 2025.