Louis Toth Retires After 50 Years of Engineering Service to the Electric Utility Industry
Toth & Associates, Inc. Springfield, Mo., has announced the retirement of Louis Toth (Lou), a distinguished engineer, businessman, and community leader. Lou's five-decade career has been characterized by significant achievements, dedicated service, and compassionate leadership.
Lou began his career in 1972 as an engineer in Joplin, Mo., before becoming President of two Midwest consulting engineering firms and engineering manager for an electric cooperative. He is a licensed professional engineer in 10 states. Together with his son, Adam Toth, Lou established Toth & Associates, where he served as president and director until 2019 and 2023, respectively. Following his retirement on May 6, 2023, Lou will become director emeritus and assist with special projects.
Lou’s career focused heavily on rural electrification and its impact on communities. His engineering planning and design efforts, rate studies, and analysis work have had a lasting effect on the regions he has served. He collaborated with nearly 100 electric utilities, facilitating the development of thousands of miles of electric infrastructure.
In recognition of his exceptional career, Lou received the Jim McNabb Engineering Innovation Award from the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives in 2019. This award recognizes his innovative thinking, which has led to increased efficiency, reliability, and cost reduction in generating and transmitting electricity on the statewide rural electric grid. In 2020, Lou was recognized internationally with the IEEE PES IAS A. P. Seethapathy Rural Electrification Excellence Award. The award celebrates power engineers who have significantly contributed to developing innovative, efficient, and cost-effective electrical technologies that have greatly benefited rural communities worldwide.
When asked about his career, Lou expressed his pride in the family-like atmosphere at Toth & Associates. “When I look at Toth & Associates today, I see a family,” he said. “A family that tries to put out an excellent work product at a fair price and continually seeks ways to benefit its employees and clients."