William H. “Bill” Rice, Jr passed away on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, in Lexington Medical Center with his family at his side. Bill was born September 11, 1931, in Lexington, KY, in his grandparent’s home, delivered by his own grandfather, Dr. William Heizer.
He was a son of the late William Homer “Honie” Rice and Virginia Heizer Rice. Bill was married to the late Miriam Carter Rice from Sardis, SC, for 50 years. Bill grew up in Morehead, KY, and graduated from Breckinridge High School in 1949. Bill was on the 1946 Breckinridge basketball state championship team. He was one of the the first two Eagle Scouts in Morehead, KY. He attended the University of Kentucky and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering in 1954. He later received a second Master’s Degree in City and Urban Planning from Florida State University.
He was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity and played freshman basketball as a guard under Coach Adolph Rupp. His father was also a civil engineer, earned the nickname “Caveman Rice” as a star football player for the University of Kentucky and the Chicago Bears during the 1920’s.
Bill served in the U. S. Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, at which time he was invited by his friend, Dwight D. Eisenhower’s son, to stand guard at the Inauguration Ceremony of President Eisenhower.
Bill had an outstanding career as a civil engineer and worked for the Federal Highway Administration. His engineering genius provided him the opportunity to serve on the team that developed and built the Interstate Highway 95 system. He was the district engineer who led the development and construction of Charleston, South Carolina’s Mark Clark Expressway and the Folly Beach Connector.
In his younger years, Bill was an avid sportsman, fisherman and hunter and a brilliant bridge player. He mentored many young boys as a basketball coach. His love for all sports continued throughout his lifetime.
Surviving are his two daughters, Donna Rice Hughes (Jack) of Great Falls, VA, and their children Sean Hughes and Mindy Hughes Vaganas, and Kathy Rice and her son, William Garrett Dell; three great grandchildren, Alex and Ava Vaganas and Aiden Patrick Hughes; brother, Lucien H. Rice from Lexington, KY. Bill’s love and devotion to his family was only matched by his family’s love for him.
Funeral service will be at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, 2011, at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Irmo/St. Andrews Chapel, with interment at Bush River Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The Service will be conducted by Reverand Mark VanBever, a family friend.. Friends and family are invited to a reception following the burial at the same location.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either Enough Is Enough, 746 Walker Road, Great Falls, Virginia 22066 (www.internetsafety101.org), a charity run by his daughter Donna, or to Bill’s grandson Garrett’s Boy Scout Troop 95, c/o Union United Methodist Church, PO Box 705, Irmo, SC 29063.
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