A TRIBUTE TO GERARD B.A. SEYMOUR - OVER 60 YEARS IN RUGBY

All rugby players in the Midwest owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Gerard Seymour who was instrumental in founding the first clubs in the area and continued to organize the sport at the regional, territorial and national levels.

His accomplishments include:
1937 - was introduced to rugby when attending St. Mary's College in the south of England.
Played at school as a second row and later as tight head prop.
Attended Westminster College on a business administration course.
1945 - joined the British Army and played for several regimental and representative XV's in England, Holland and Germany.
1948 - left the army and joined Esher RFC.
1960 - arrived in New York - Jan 4. Joined New York RFC and assisted in the formation of Manhatten RFC.
1961 - left NY to join the British Consulate in Kansas City.
1962/1963 - helped organize the NY 7-a-side tournament.
1964 - began organizing the first club in the Kansas City area in the spring of 1964.
In September 1964 the Kansas City Rugby Club played its first game against the newly formed University of Kansas RFC.

Served as President of the KCRFC for the first 12 years of its existence and was elected President Emeritus in 1978.Organized and served as president of the Heart of America Rugby Football Union for the first 10 years of its existence (1967-1976) and elected President Emeritus in 1976. Was present as the representative of the HOARFU at the inaugural meeting held in Kansas City in March 1975 to form the Western RFU of the United States.

Was elected Charter President and served the Union in this capacity for the first 2 years. Represented the Western RFU at the inaugural meeting held in Chicago to form the United States RFU in June 1975. Was elected as one of the four Western Directors to that body. He served for 10 years as a director of the USARFU. He also acted as chairman of the Metropolitan Committee of the HOARFU; chairman of the Tour Committee of the HOARFU; and as liaison director for the Combined Services and Medical Committee of the USARFU.

He was an honorary life vice president of the Tulsa RFC and an honorary member of the Pittsburgh Harlequins RFC. He was an honorary vice president of London Welsh and an overseas member of Esher RFC.

Kansas City Star Obituary - 23 April 2002
GERARD B. A. SEYMOUR Gerard (Gerry) B.A. Seymour was born June 18, 1927, and he died April 22, 2002. He was Honorary Vice Consul, Emeritus, for the United Kingdom and a member of the Consular Corps of Greater Kansas City. Gerry was born and raised in London, England. He attended St. Mary's School, Southampton, England, and gained a diploma from Westminster College, London.

Gerry then served in His Majesty's Army in postwar Germany. Gerry was a leading light in the Young Conservatives in England. Gerry came to the United States in 1960. He worked in New York, then joined the diplomatic corps with Her Majesty's Foreign Service; he served in Kansas City, then was posted to St. Louis. He later returned to Kansas City to make his home here.

Gerry worked for the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, and he was the first Director of the Chamber's International Department. He also worked for Townsend Newspapers and Berry World Travel, and was Past President of the Kansas City International Trade Club. He served on the Board of Directors of the Kansas City Sister Cities Program, and he was a member of the Kansas City International Relations Council.

Gerry was a writer, producer and host of the Kansas City International Hour Radio Program on Talk Radio 710 AM. He had also worked for the Power 95 Morning Show as the character "Henry Bergdorf Bloomingdale." In addition, he did voice work for television and radio commercials. For the last five years, he had been the QuizMaster at the Pub Quiz at O'Dowds Pub on the Plaza. Gerry was a player with the Esher Rugby Football Club in England, and from that time forward he had a great love for the sport of rugby. He introduced rugby to Kansas City and the western United States.

He was founder and most recently served as Past President, Emeritus, of the Kansas City Rugby Football Club; he was also Past President, Emeritus, of the Kansas City Rugby Football Union. He was founder of the Western Rugby Football Union, which is responsible for administering the game in 13 states. Gerry was also a founding father of the United States of American Rugby Football Union, which represents the USA in international games all over the world. Gerry was a founder and player with the Optimists Cricket Club in London, England.

He was also a member of the Marleybone Cricket Club (MCC), London, England. He was cofounder and player with the Kansas City Cricket Club. Gerry had a lifelong fascination with British railroads, particularly steam locomotives, and he was a member of the Great Western Society. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard Francis Seymour and Elizabeth O'Rourke Seymour. He is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth M. Hayes (and her husband, Michael), and Alanna F. Seymour; two grandsons, Colin Hayes and Matthew Hayes; and his former wife, Sara Housel.