Raymond C. Loehr

Raymond C. Loehr
Environmental Engineer
Raymond C. Loehr (89), the former H. M. Alharthy Centennial Chair and Professor Emeritus at The University of Texas at Austin, died April 15, 2021 in Ashburn, VA.
Dr. Loehr was an expert on the treatment of industrial wastes, the management of hazardous wastes, and on the remediation of sites contaminated with industrial and hazardous wastes. He was an active member of the environmental engineering profession, published over 300 technical peer reviewed articles, and authored or co-authored ten books. During his academic career, he was the major advisor for ten PhD students and over 80 Master of Science graduate students. His major research contributions have led to improved biological methods to treat contaminated soils and to a better understanding of the actual risks of organic chemicals found in sediments.
He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1983. The reason for his election to the NAE was cited as his "international leadership in research, engineering analysis, education and management practice for solution of waste disposal problems".
His research and technology development efforts have been widely recognized. He has obtained awards from ten different professional engineering and scientific organizations, including the Rachel Carson Award from the Society of Toxicology and Chemistry and the Thomas R. Camp Medal from the Water Environment Federation.
In addition to his academic activities, he has provided invited testimony to Congressional Committees and Sub-Committees and was a consultant to industries, law firms and engineering consulting firms. He also was chair or member of committees of the National Research Council, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, Los Alamos national Laboratory, and the
U. S. Environmental Agency.
With USEPA, he served for over twenty-five years as a member of its Science Advisory Board, including being Chair of the entire SAB from 1988 to 1993. The SAB provides independent advice to the USEPA Administrator and to specific EPA Offices. As part of his USEPA involvement, he chaired several independent evaluations and reports, such as the 1990 Report, "Reducing Risk: Setting Priorities and Strategies for Environmental Protection", that helped set directions and action for the USEPA,
As part of his professional activities, he was a member and Diplomate of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers for several decades. He also was President of AAEE in 2002-2003.
Dr. Loehr was born in Cleveland Ohio, obtained a BS and MS from Case Institute of Technology (now Case Western Reserve University), and obtained his PhD from The University of Wisconsin, Madison WI. Prior to his teaching and research program at The University of Texas at Austin, he was a Professor at The University of Kansas, Lawrence KS and was the Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor at Cornell University, Ithaca NY. At each of these universities, he had major teaching and research programs. He moved to northern Virginia in 2003.
To obtain practical experience helpful to his professional, academic and research activities, on separate academic leaves of absence, he worked for USEPA and for a consulting engineering firm. In addition, he was a member of the Board of Directors of two consulting engineering firms.
While at UTA, during the period of 1990 to 1999, Dr. Loehr was the director of the Environmental Solutions Program, a multi-disciplinary research program in the College of Engineering that obtained research funds from industry to investigate solutions to industrial waste management problems facing Texas and industries in Texas.
In 1987, he received the Engineering Foundation Faculty Excellence Award from the UTA College of Engineering.
In 1991, Dr. Loehr received the Billy and Claude Hocott Distinguished Centennial Engineering Research Award from the UTA College of Engineering. This recognition was awarded as a result of his "outstanding contribution to the advancement of research in the engineering profession".
In 1992, Dr. Loehr received the Joe J. King Professional Achievement Award from the UTA College of Engineering. He was cited for his "exemplary service and demonstrated leadership in advancing the profession of engineering".
Dr. Loehr also chaired or served on a number of administrative committees in the College of Engineering and in the University.
He also was a registered Professional Engineer in Texas, Ohio and Kansas.
He loved country music, flowers and his family, creating over 90 memory books for his loved ones. He leaves his wife of 67 years, Joan M. Loehr, and eight children: Stephen (Amy Yale-Loehr), Michael (Carrie Koplinka-Loehr), Mary and James (Caitlin Loehr) of Ithaca NY; Mark (Catherine Tapsall) of South Sutton NH; and Kathleen (Kevin Coray), Daniel (Karen Loehr) and Anne (Neel Inamdar) of Reston VA as well as nineteen grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
He was a teacher who had a profound impact on the lives of his students. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Verona, VA.
Funeral arrangements are pending.