Richard E. Toth began his USU career in 1972 with the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning in the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. He received his graduate degree from Harvard University’s acclaimed Graduate School of Design in 1963. He returned to Harvard as faculty in 1968 after serving at the University of Pennsylvania. Toth remained at Harvard until relocating with his wife Diana and family to Logan and USU.

Toth pioneered the studio curriculum at USU, where LAEP students conducted comprehensive environmental assessments for many Utah communities and natural areas. In 2001, Toth transferred from LAEP to the Department of Environment and Society in the College of Natural Resources, continuing his work with students engaged in assessing the environment. Toth retired from teaching in 2014, but remained active in his profession, while continuing his love affair with Utah’s mountains and rivers as he plied his passion for fly-fishing. Toth died in Salt Lake City on January 3, 2018.