Nyland was born in Hollister in 1930 and was a fifth-generation
San Benito County resident.
Harvey Nyland, a three-term San Benito County sheriff, died Sunday evening at his San Juan Bautista home. He was 77.
Nyland was born in Hollister in 1930 and was a fifth-generation San Benito County resident. He graduated from San Benito High School in 1948 and from the University of Santa Clara in 1952, where he majored in history.
He went on to graduate from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in Quantico, Va., in 1973.
Nyland was a lifelong law enforcement officer, joining the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol officer in 1963. In his 22 years with the office, he moved swiftly up the ranks, eventually becoming chief deputy of corrections.
He left that job in 1987 when elected San Benito County sheriff – a position he held for 11 years.
Nyland leaves behind his wife of 52 years, Gladys, and children Sandra Nyland, Susan McCullough, John Nyland and Barbara Khozam.
