Ben E. Rice

Ben E. Rice, 75 of Jacksonville, died Tuesday, March 12, 2013. Ben was born September 23, 1937 in Texarkana, Texas to Melda (Adams) Rice and the late Ben Rice. Ben was the Valedictorian of the 1955 graduating class of Jacksonville High School, received an associate degree in Journalism from the University of Arkansas, and a JD from The George Washington University in 1964. During law school, Ben served as a legislative aide for Congressman Dale Alford. Ben and Judge Robert Batton were the founding attorneys of the law firm now known as Rice & Adams where he practiced law from 1964 until his retirement in 2007. He received the "Outstanding Lawyer Citizen" award from the Arkansas Bar Association & Arkansas Bar Foundation for 2006-07. Mr. Rice was very active in the Jacksonville community. Ben was instrumental in the founding of the Jacksonville Boys & Girls Club, the Jacksonville Museum of Military History and Jacksonville Towers, and remained passionate about them. He served as Jacksonville City Attorney from 1967 until 1977. He was a member of the Little Rock AFB Community Council (President 1994-95), Jacksonville Commerce Corporation, Pulaski County, Arkansas and American Bar Associations, Jacksonville Rotary Club (President 1985-86), and Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. At various times, he served as Director of Jacksonville Boys & Girls Club, LRAFB Historical Foundation, Jacksonville Towers, Arkansas Savings & Loan Association, First American Bank of Little Rock, and Pulaski County United Way. Ben was also past president of Jacksonville Museum of Military History, Jacksonville Elderly Activities Program, Jacksonville Broadcasting Company, Jacksonville Jaycees, Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville Centennial, Pulaski Conservation District, and General Media. He was currently serving as a director of Community State Bank of Bradley, Ark. Ben was a life-long member of First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville, where he served as Chairman of the Council on Ministries and the Administrative Board, and was a member of the Pairs and Spares Sunday School class. Ben is survived by his wife of 44 years, Susan (DeClerk) Rice of Jacksonville; mother Melda Rice of Jacksonville; children Patricia Kye and husband Ryan of Jacksonville, Carl Rice of Jacksonville, and Holly Rice of Dallas; grandson Augustus Ben Kye. Visitation will begin at 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 15, at First United Methodist Church, Jacksonville. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16 at First United Methodist Church, officiated by Rev. Mark McDonald and Rev. Brad Moore. Burial will follow at Concord Cemetery in Furlow. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Jacksonville or the Jacksonville Museum of Military History. To sign his guestbook, please visit www.arkansasfuneralcare.com. Arrangements made by Arkansas Funeral Care, Jacksonville.