In 1997 he was named to the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame. Laut attended Art Haycox Elementary School, East. O. Green Junior High School, Santa Clara High School, Moorpark College (all in Ventura County), along with San Jose City College and University of California, Los Los Angeles
After his retirement from being a professional shot putter, he became the athletic director for Hueneme High School in the Oxnard Union High School District. Laut died at his home in Oxnard, California, on August 28, 2009, after being shot several times in the head
He was 52 years old.
He won the bronze medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Los Angeles He also won the gold medal at the 1979 Pan American Games and the bronze at the 1981 IAAF World Cup. He was the 1979, 1981, 1983 and 1985 United States champion in the shot put. His personal best throw was 22.02 meters, achieved in August 1982 in Koblenz.
