Richard Lincoln Handy

Richard L. Handy, 96, of Ames, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Green Hills Health Care Center in Ames, Iowa, while under the care of Suncrest Hospice.

Richard Lincoln Handy was born to Florence E. Shoemaker and Walter N. Handy in Chariton, Iowa on February 12, 1929. His father was a civil engineer graduating from Iowa State College and Florence Handy was a homemaker. His parents moved to Des Moines where Richard received his schooling and attended Roosevelt High School. Another move brought them to St. Louis, Missouri where he graduated from Clayton High School in 1947. Richard first came to Iowa State College in 1947 for his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology (1951 and 1953, respectively). He continued for his Ph.D., earning a degree in civil engineering, geology, and soil engineering in 1956. After graduating, he began his 60 year career at Iowa State University, becoming an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering in 1956, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering in 1959, and full Professor of Civil Engineering in 1963. He was awarded the honors of Anson Marston Distinguished Professor and Distinguished Professor Emeritus in 1991.

Richard had over 100 academic publications, four published books and over 20 patents for soil testing equipment and soil stabilization. More than 60 graduate students earned their degrees under his mentorship.

He organized and taught courses in Geotechnical Engineering, Foundation Engineering, Earth Dam Design, Clay Mineralogy using x-ray diffraction, Cement Chemistry, and most popularly; Air-Photo Interpretation of Soils.

Richard was a member of several professional societies, including the Geological Society of America (GSA) which elected him as a fellow in 1951, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, elected Fellow in 1961), American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE, member since 1967), International Society of Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering (ISSMFE), American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Soil Science Society of America (SSSA, Emeritus), Iowa Academy of Science (IAS, Life Fellow), Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Xi (Fellow), Chi Epsilon, Society for Irreproducible Results (Honorary Member), and many more selected honors too numerous to mention.

He wrote “Screenings” from the Soil Research Lab, which was a popular newsletter mailed worldwide from 1956 to 1964.

In 2011, 35 former students and colleagues established the Richard L. Handy Professorship as an endowed faculty position in honor of Richard. In a 2018 interview for the ASCE Geo-Institute Magazine, Geostrata, he was recognized as a GeoLegend.

In 1969, he became the Founder and President of Handy Geotechnical Instruments, Inc., website: handygeotech.com

In 1980, he was interim CEO for reorganization of the Walter N. Handy Co., Inc., Springfield, Missouri, a supplier of fly ash for use in concrete and oil well cement.

In 1970, as a professor, he performed truly groundbreaking research with six undergraduate students on the NW passage expedition of the SS Manhattan, the largest icebreaker ever built. A book published in Iceland credited the team as the “outstanding scientists on the Manhattan.” The Humble Oil & Refining Co. wanted to study whether it was feasible to bring oil to the states using tankers to break through the frozen Northwest Passage ice to Prudhoe Bay. National Geographic Magazine featured the expedition in a March 1970 story, and a replica of the SS Manhattan resides in the Smithsonian Museum.

Benjamin Franklin said, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn.” This became Richard’s style of teaching. He never sought accolades, but they came nonetheless, because the quality of his work was known worldwide.

Richard is survived by his wife, Kathryn; daughter, Beth (Davis), stepsons, Rick (Lori) Crouch and Scott (Cindy) Crouch; six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

A visitation for Richard will be held from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026, at Carson-Stapp Funeral Home in Ogden, Iowa. Pastor Mark Heilman will officiate. Burial will follow at Glenwood Cemetery in Ogden.

Memorials may be made to Walter N. Handy Memorial Scholarship Fund.