2024 Distinguished Alumni: Richard Engelsmann

Richard G. ‘Dick’ Engelsmann is a St. Louis business leader and philanthropist who, in 2023, endowed the deanship in Arts & Sciences. His father earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from WashU in 1921, and his late wife earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in fashion design from the university in 1965. Engelsmann, his father, and his brother founded Beltservice Corporation in 1969. The company grew to become one of the world’s leading fabricators of custom conveyor belts and a major belting wholesaler.
The Dean’s Medal honors a friend whose dedication and support have been exceptional to WashU Arts & Sciences.