This retrospective article points to a single aspect of József Tóth’s scientific work, to the thematic intersections that make it easier to interpret his oeuvre as a whole. Through secondary analyses of literature, as well as professional experiences and personal impressions gained as a student and colleague, it attempts to synthesize the professor’s scientific work related to urban reclassification and formal urbanisation. József Tóth’s influence extended beyond the academic sphere not only as a science organizer and rector, but also as a regional developer. This commemorative essay also points to the relationship between the scientist and politics, the never-ending struggles of the geographer in the formation of regional policies. József Tóth’s school-establishing activity in Pécs – also related to the practical aspects of formal urbanization – made a lasting contribution to the development of Hungarian human geography.