LAEP Alumni

2021 Distinguished Alumni

Greg Montgomery (BLA, 1980)

Greg Montgomery (BLA 1980) is the present Planning Division Manager for Ogden, Utah. After graduating from Utah State, he worked for Ogden City for a year under a federal grant program called UPARR (urban park and recreation recovery). This opportunity of assessing the city parks and infrastructure allowed him to work with the city’s planning office. Greg took advantage of this opportunity to do as Ian McHarg, encouraged students to do a year earlier when he was a guest lecturer in the LAEP department. McHarg’s challenge was for “students trained in Landscape Architecture to infiltrate into all disciplines and public realms.” Greg shared with the two planners assigned to the city, design principles that could help them as the city was going into a transition phase with the opening a new downtown mall.

In the fall of 1981, Ogden City created its own planning department, separate from Weber County and Greg was offered a position with that transition. He has spent forty-years working in the planning division. The first challenge began with helping the city see the need or requiring landscaping for commercial development. The challenges only became larger over the years. Greg received his American Institute of Certified Planners certificate in 1991. Over time, the planning division’s influence grew to encouraging the development of the Ogden River Trail system, the protection of the foothills and the development of Ogden’s Bonneville Shore line trail and the connecting trail system, the development of the Municipal Gardens into a connected open green space in the center of the city, the preservation of Ogden’s historic resources, especial Historic 25th Street which was named in 2014 by the American Planning Association as one of the “Great American Streets.” The most recent city development came from the LAEP 2018 fall urban design studio which produced the “Reinventing the Rails Merging East and West”. That project became the impetus for the “Make Ogden” downtown redevelopment plan which was approved in the fall of 2020.

Kevin Shields (BLA, 1990)

Kevin R. Shields serves as Sr. Landscape Architect for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. He is one of 3 landscape architects employed by the Church. He has served as a landscape architect for the Church for 24 years and currently directs the landscape and site design for temples and other major Church projects.

When Kevin was hired by the Church in early 1997 there were 50 temples. There are now 252 temples built, under construction, or recently announced. Many other temple sites have undertaken major landscape renovations during his tenure, including the current Salt Lake Temple renovation project which includes over 20 acres of urban design. He also assisted with the design and construction of the Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake.

Kevin’s job is unique as a landscape architect. Rather than compete with other landscape architects for work he helps landscape architects and other consultants throughout the world by providing design direction, quality, and expectations unique to Church facilities. He has strongly promoted and advocated the need for landscape architects on these projects and has been thrilled to see so many architects and others hiring landscape architects or employing them within their firms.

Prior to working with the Church, Kevin worked in a small multi-disciplinary firm in California for 7 years where he was able to work on a variety of site planning and landscape projects from lakeside and golf course developments and new university master plans to hospitals and small commercial properties.

Kevin holds a BLA degree from Utah State University, is a long-time member of ASLA, and is a strong supporter of Utah State University and the LAEP program, serving as a mentor in the LAEP program for many years, and serving on the Tooele County USU Alumni Board and as Board President, raising thousands of dollars in scholarships for many students wishing to attend USU.

In Memoriam

From time to time, we have to say goodbye to our alumni. We invite you to join us in honoring the lives and impact of these alumni who have recently passed.

Sharman Stevenson B.S., 1951

Larry B. Jacobson B.S., 1962

Frank L. Hunsaker B.S., 1966

Richard L. Emik BLA, 1969

Paul Platis BLA, 1973

Steven C. Heaton BLA, 1991

Larry Jacobson: Life and Legacy

Larry Jacobson, class of ‘62. was never one to “toot his own horn,” but his proud wide will do it for him. Larry passed away in December 2019 in Salem, Oregon. A young man who grew up in the beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming area working as a ranch hand, unexpectedly found himself in Logan, Utah with a ski scholarship. In 1956, Larry Jacobson’s high school ski coach, Bill Ashley, saw him as a guy with a promising future, and helped him apply at several Rocky Mountain schools.

When he arrived at USU in 1957, Larry had no idea what major to choose, so it was a flip of the coin that srted him off in Landscape Architecture. He already had a deep appreciation for the outdoors and nature, but he later discovered he had an untapped artistic talent.

Larry paid his own way through college, working as a dude wrangler, truck driver, ski instructor, construction laborer, and Forest Service employee. He married in 1959, and became a father in 1961. After graduation in 1962, Larry had several interviews, but accepted a job from the Oregon State Parks Department as a Landscape Architect. Oregon was unique in having great public interest in outdoor recreation, super political backing, and a strong financial base.

Larry was involved in locating and acquiring many scenic properties. He created master plans and guided projects from start to finish. With excellent leadership and surrounded by dedicated people, he took great satisfaction in his job. As oregon’s successive legislatures approved opening all coastal land to the public in 1967, passed bills protecting Wild and Scenic Rivers in 1988, and continued to support parks expansion, Larry’s work remained very interesting. He especially enjoyed field work, which sometimes included river raft trips. Naturally, he introduced horse trails in several parks. Oregon deserves its reputation for outstanding parks and recreation.

Larry became more and more important in his department, and he retired after 30 years with the title of Deputy Director of Oregon State Parks and Recreation.