Colonel Vernon Maughan Buehler (1919–2014) was a distinguished military finance officer and esteemed business professor. Born in Daniels, Idaho, he enrolled at Utah State University (USU) in 1937 and graduated in 1941 with a bachelor's degree in accounting. During his time at USU, he met and married MaRee Clawson, to whom he was married for 50 years before she passed away in 1990.

Buehler dedicated 27 years to military service, culminating in his retirement as a colonel in the United States Army in 1967. Throughout his military career, he furthered his education by becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), earning an MBA from Harvard University, and obtaining a doctorate in economics from George Washington University.

Following his military tenure, Buehler returned to USU's College of Business in 1967 as a management professor. Over a 21-year academic career, he notably founded and directed the nationally recognized, student-run Business Partners Program. During this time he also co-edited and published seven books and helped lay the foundation for the coveted Shingo Prize for excellence in manufacturing. After retiring at age 70, he continued to contribute to global education as a volunteer professor in Thailand, Poland, Ukraine, and Russia. He was a leading influence in the creation of USU’s Veterans Memorial and the Russell Maughan Aviation Memorial outside the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum.

In recognition of his significant contributions, USU honored Buehler with the Spirit of Old Main Award (1980), the Distinguished Alumnus Award (1989), and the Distinguished Service Award (2001). Buehler died in 2014.