Richard Anderson, a beloved alumnus of Utah State University's College of Engineering, passed away at his Wellsville home on August 25 at the age of 88. His passing comes after his wife, fellow USU alumna Moonyeen Anderson, who died in 2024. The couple, praised for their dedication to USU, were noteworthy for their long-standing support, which bolstered numerous student initiatives, as USU Today reported.
Their story began in Utah, Richard hailing from Brigham City, and Moonyeen growing up on a ranch in Alta, Wyoming. They crossed paths at USU, where their individual journeys merged. Post-graduation, Moonyeen earned her degree in social work in 1958 and spent her career as a counselor. Richard graduated with an engineering degree in 1959, later attending Stanford University for a master’s and an executive program, sharpening his skills at Hewlett-Packard, climbing up through the ranks from a design engineer to a division general manager in the communications sector. Amid their personal achievements, they never lost sight of their roots at USU, contributing to the institution's growth and the enlightenment of its students.
These endowments included the Richard and Moonyeen Anderson Engineering Building and a substantial scholarship endowment for engineering undergraduates. In 2019, they made an indelible mark with what was then USU's largest-ever endowed scholarship for student-athletes studying engineering. David Kunz, senior director of development for the College of Engineering, celebrated Richard Anderson as "a vocal advocate of the engineering profession," recalling his persuasive power in guiding the youth. "Richard Anderson had an amazing ability to convince young people that engineering was their pathway to success," Kunz said, as per USU Today.
