Richard Dean Estes (1932-1990) was a paleoherpetologist, specializing in the evolution of extinct salamanders.
[1] He was awarded the Romer-Simpson Medal in 1990 by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology and served as an editor for the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
[2][3] The taxa Estesina and Richardoestesia are both named in honour of Estes.