William E. Rice

Bill Rice passed away in Dallas on February 26, 2015. He was born in Los Angeles on August 30, 1929 to Raymond and Sarah Vesta Rice. He was raised in Dallas by his mother and aunt, Bonnie Bond. A talented artist from a young age, after high school he studied art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City and the Art Student’s League in New York.

In his early twenties, his cousin, Wed Howard, advised him to make the most of his deep voice and go into radio. Bill worked at radio and television stations in several states before landing a job as a staff announcer at ABC News in New York. For many of his forty six years in the business, Bill was the announcer for ABC Evening News, later called World News Tonight. In a tribute to Bill, ABC described him as “The Man With the Legendary Voice”.

Bill was proceeded in death by his parents, his brother Jack Rice and his wife of thirty four years, Warda. He is survived by nieces Cheryl Rice, Briana Gore and nephew Randy Rice, cousins Marsha Moore, Barry Bond, Debbie Camp and Meredith Waldron.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at Sparkman Hillcrest Funeral Home in Dallas.

The family suggests memorial contributions be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association