In Memoriam: Honoring Longtime USU Supporter Rex Plaizier
Aug. 31, 2020 — Students, faculty and staff at Utah State University are saddened by the loss of friend and mentor Rex Plaizier who died Aug. 27 after an 8-year battle with cancer. He was 61.
Rex Plaizier was a longtime supporter of the College of Engineering and was the featured speaker at the 2018 convocation.
Plaizier was president and CEO of WesTech Engineering, a Salt Lake City-based water treatment firm. An alumnus of the University of Utah, Plaizier was a passionate supporter of USU’s College of Engineering. He contributed regularly to the Engineering State youth summer camp program and was the featured speaker at USU’s 2018 College of Engineering convocation.
Friends and colleagues say Plaizier lived a life committed to helping others. Ralph A. Cutler, current WesTech CEO, says Plaizier led a successful 34-year career in numerous positions at WesTech. His work on projects around the world helped bring the benefits of clean water to millions of people.
“With an impressively sharp mind, Rex was at ease when navigating complex issues related to the technical engineering aspects of a project, the financial ramifications of a business transaction, or critical conversations with fellow employees and partners. He knew WesTech inside and out,” wrote Cutler in an email to employees.
Plaizier’s passion was in water treatment and water resources engineering. He collaborated regularly with USU’s Department of Biological Engineering and served on that department as well as the College of Engineering’s industry advisory boards.
Condolences can be viewed and shared at this online obituary.
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Contact: Matt Jensen, matthew.jensen@usu.edu, 435-797-8170