Homer Cranston Rice of Atlanta, Georgia, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2024 at 97 years of age. He was born February 20, 1927 in Bellevue Kentucky, the son of Samuel Cecil Rice, a Methodist Minister, and Grace Wilson Rice, a schoolteacher. He was a notable figure for his accomplishments in collegiate athletics, however, God and his family always came first and that was evident throughout his life. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather and always made family and church a priority.
Homer's career included the roles of coach, administrator, teacher, leadership development, and author. His love for football and athletics began at an early age. He was an all-state quarterback, all-conference point guard, sprint champion, and baseball catcher at Highlands High School in Ft. Thomas, Kentucky. Following high school, his love for his country led him to enlist in the Navy, where he served as a supply officer in the South Pacific during and was part of the Navy-Blue Jacket Choir during World War II. After the war, his success as an athlete continued at Centre College in Danville, KY where he was a Colliers All-American quarterback and lettered in baseball. He was inducted into Centre's Athletics Hall of Fame and Centre's MVP award is still in his name. He served as catcher with the Brooklyn Dodgers Organization after college before beginning a long, distinguished career in athletics. During his lifetime his educational achievements included a Bachelor and Master of Arts in Education and a Doctorate of Philosophy, in addition to three honorary doctorates.
He began his football coaching career at Wartburg and Spring City, Tennessee in 1951 and Highlands High School in Ft. Thomas, KY. As a head high school football coach he compiled a record of 102-9-7 in 11 seasons. He developed the Triple Option in 1951 and was bestowed the “Winningest Coach in America” award in 1961 before becoming head offensive coordinator at the University of Kentucky and at the University of Oklahoma. He was head coach at the University of Cincinnati, Rice University, and the Cincinnati Bengals. During that time, he developed four All-Americans and produced five national offensive leaders.
In athletic administration he served as Director of Athletics at the University of North Carolina and was credited with developing the nation's best programs in 1972-1973. His final career move was to become Athletic Director at Georgia Tech in 1980, remaining with the program until his retirement in 1997. At Tech, he accomplished the biggest turn around in the history of the NCAA, taking Georgia Tech from last place in every sport to being at the helm when Tech won a football national championship and a first Final Four in basketball in the school's history, followed by being number one in the NCAA in baseball, golf and women's basketball. In 1996, Rice served as Senior Administrator for the Olympic Village during the Centennial Olympic Summer Games at Georgia Tech.
Rice's greatest legacy is the origination of the Total Person Program that he installed at North Carolina and Georgia Tech to equip the student-athlete to be successful in all areas of life. He continued teaching the principles of this program in the “Leadership Fitness” course he designed and taught at Tech as an adjunct professor from 1997 until 2020 at 93 years of age. The course has become the instructional model for many college and university leadership programs throughout the nation.
In addition to his memorable career, Homer was inducted into 14 Halls of Fame and presented with more awards than is possible to list. He authored seven books, was a sought-after speaker, served and chaired numerous committees and developed leadership seminars for civic and sports organizations. His impact upon the church, educational institutions, society, family and friends will extend well beyond his lifetime.
Homer is preceded in death by his wife of 65-years, Phyllis Wardrup Rice, his parents, Samuel Cecil Rice and Nancy Wilson Rice and his brother Robert Cecil Rice. He is survived by his three daughters Nancy Rice Hetherington, Phyllis Rice Ingle and Angela Rice Miller, and son-in-laws Steve Hetherington and Jeff Miller. Homer was blessed with his wife of nine years Karen Sue Rice, seven grandchildren; Ryce, Leigh and Drew Hetherington; Jamie Ingle Keeling and Brian Ingle and David and Andrew Miller; as well as four great-grandchildren; Kaya Curcio, Brooks Hetherington and Jackson and Homer Keeling. He also served as a loving stepfather to Karen's children.
A memorial service for Dr. Homer C. Rice will be held on June 21, 2024, at 11 am, at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, 3180 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30305.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Athletic Scholarship Fund, at Georgia Tech, 177 North Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30332.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.11.2