A Lifetime of Engineering: Honoring the Lives and Legacies of Richard and Moonyeen Anderson

Richard Anderson, a College of Engineering alumnus and longtime supporter of Utah State University, died Aug. 25 at his home in Wellsville, Utah. He was 88. His wife, fellow USU alumna Moonyeen Anderson, died in 2024.

The Andersons were longtime supporters of USU and the College of Engineering and contributed to student success and impact initiatives for many years.

Richard was born and raised in Brigham City, Utah, and Moonyeen grew up on a family ranch in Alta, Wyoming, near the Teton Range. They met and married while attending USU.

Moonyeen graduated from USU in 1958 with a degree in social work. She spent much of her professional career working as a counselor for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Social Services program.

Richard graduated in 1959 with a degree in electrical engineering. He received a master’s degree in engineering from Stanford University in 1963 and completed the Stanford Executive Program in 1982.

He went on to have a long and successful career at Hewlett-Packard, where he worked as a design engineer before holding multiple leadership roles, including division general manager of the microwave and communications group.

Richard served as director for the Utah State University Foundation in the early 2000s and was a member of the College of Engineering Advisory Board. He also served on the National Advisory Board during the USU presidency of Stanford Cazier.

Richard received an honorary doctorate degree from USU in 1999, and both Richard and Moonyeen received the USU Distinguished Service Award in 2005.

In 2015, the family gave a generous gift to name the Richard and Moonyeen Anderson Engineering Building. They also established a sizeable scholarship endowment that provides tuition support for undergraduate engineering students.

In 2019, the Andersons established what was then the largest-ever endowed scholarship gift to USU Athletics to support student-athletes majoring in engineering. Both endowed scholarships generate a perpetual source of financial aid for students in need.

The Anderson family legacy has touched the lives of dozens of USU engineering students and alumni. David Kunz, senior director of development for the College of Engineering, said Richard Anderson will be remembered as a vocal advocate of the engineering profession.

“Richard Anderson had an amazing ability to convince young people that engineering was their pathway to success,” he said. “He would say whatever dream a young person has for their future, that an engineering degree would help them get there. He saw the value and versatility of engineering education.”

An obituary and information about funeral services can be seen here.