Former student remembered as leading transportation expert, Texas A&M planning benefactor

Rick Mobley ‘81, a leading transportation planning expert who led numerous, major transportation projects throughout the U.S., passed away April 13, 2020.

Mobley’s family plans to [livestream Mobley's memorial service] (https://www.facebook.com/rcmobley2) at 10 a.m. April 17. Condolences or messages to his family may be posted on a [memorial web page] (https://www.rosewood.cc/book-of-memories/4186914/Mobley-Richard/service-details.php) . The Texas Chapter of the American Planning Association has also posted a [memorial page] (https://texas.planning.org/knowledge-center/news/memoriam-rick-mobley-aicp-falsa-fite/) .

In addition to heading projects that led to an area’s improved mobility, quality of life and economic performance, he was committed to his profession’s future as a supporter of the urban planning programs at Texas A&M.

“He was enthusiastic in his giving — both in terms of financial gifts, but even more so in his support of students and the planning profession,” said Shannon Van Zandt, head of the [Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning] (http://laup.arch.tamu.edu/) .

Mobley and his wife, Stacy, recently created a planned gift to support academics at Texas A&M that will fund a departmental professorship and scholarship endowment.

After earning an [undergraduate landscape architecture degree] (http://laup.arch.tamu.edu/academics/undergraduate/bla/) and a [graduate degree in urban planning] (http://laup.arch.tamu.edu/academics/graduate/mup/) at Texas A&M, Mobley’s nearly four-decade career included a recent post as regional director of transportation planning at [RS&H] (https://www.rsandh.com/) , a global architecture, engineering and consulting services firm. At RS&H, Mobley led the firm’s statewide, regional and local transportation planning projects in Texas and the firm’s south central region.

His transportation planning expertise was called upon for major thoroughfare initiatives along with state, multi-state, regional and nationally significant transportation projects.

Mobley’s blend of design and planning expertise led to numerous successes in projects that included site planning and design, traffic access and circulation, pedestrian and bicycle facility planning and design, transit facility and service planning, parking facility demand analysis and design for central business districts, sports stadiums, universities, convention centers, hospitals, hotels and more.

He also wished to increase young people’s opportunities to enter his profession.

“Growing up, my parents constantly reminded me to look for ways to help others in need,” Mobley said in the Texas A&M Foundation’s new [Spirit of Sharing] (https://cdn.txamfoundation.com/Publications/Spirit%20of%20Sharing/SpiritofSharing_Spring-2020_Digital-Reduced.pdf) issue. “They gave me ample opportunities to discover my talents and learn how to use them for the greater good. Now, I am blessed to be able to extend those same kinds of opportunities to people outside of my immediate family.”

With time, Mobley’s gift will provide opportunities for a growing number of future Aggies.

“We know our gift will not be realized until after we’re gone, but we are so hopeful for the impact it will have,” Mobley said. “I was provided with so many opportunities during my time at Texas A&M, and I hope this gift will do the same for future Aggies.”

Richard Nira

rnira@arch.tamu.edu