Veryl A. Switzer was born in 1932 in Nicodemus, Kansas. He graduated from Bogue High School in 1950 and then proceeded to Kansas State University, graduating in 1954. While there he played football, earning a number of honors, including being named to the All Big Seven football team and being an All American for several years. After graduation, Switzer was a first round National Football League draft pick; he played for five years before being sidelined by a knee injury. After playing professionally and serving the U.S. Air Force for two and a half years, Switzer worked for the Chicago Public School System for ten years before returning to Kansas State University in 1969. From 1973 to 1988, Switzer was Associate Dean and Assistant Vice-President for university minority affairs. In 1982 he received a Presidential Award for Distinguished Services to Minority Education at KSU. After his "semi-retirement" in 1988, Switzer became Associate Athletic Director for Academics. For his athletics, he was a charter member of the KSU Sports Hall of Fame and has also been inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Switzer was also active in the community. He was elected to the Manhattan USD 383 School Board and served from 1970-1978; he has also served on the state Board of Directors of the Kansas Children's Service League. He is also still an active member of the Nicodemus, Kansas community.