During his years at East High, Richard Stalhut played football, basketball, and baseball.  He also sang in the choir and took part in the swing show.  He received a full scholarship to play football at the University of Nebraska and earned a teaching degree in the field of mathematics. 

While teaching high school math, he completed his Master’s Degree in Mathematics and later became certified as a secondary principal.  He was also a finalist for the Iowa Teacher of the Year.  Stalhut accepted a position at the University of Northern Iowa, where he trained, supervised, and mentored beginning teachers. 

He first worked in the Cedar Rapids area and was later promoted to the Ottumwa center.  He went on to earn his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Iowa where he specialized in teacher training and development. 

He has presented manuscripts at more than 50 regional and national conferences and served as a teacher and mentor to over 2000 student teachers during his 35-year career.  Now retired from UNI, he continues to serve as a professor emeritus.