1919
Dr.
2011
Dr. Theodore R. Rice
January 19, 1919 — June 3, 2011
Dr. Theodore R. Rice, 92, of Morehead City, NC died Friday, June 3, 2011 at Crystal Bluffs Rehabilitation & Health Care Center.
A Memorial Service will be held 3:00 pm Saturday, June 18, 2011 at Munden Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Dr. Rice grew up in Eastern Kentucky and graduated from Berea College, Berea, KY in 1941. He entered the army during World War II, and served four years in the Chemical Warfare Corps, attaining the rank of Major. He married Frankie Mantooth in 1941 and they spent four years in Huntsville, Alabama.
Dr. Rice came to Morehead City, NC after receiving his PhD degree from Harvard University in 1949, to work with the Bureau of Fisheries on Piver's Island. Having received his PhD as a Marine Ecologist, he looked forward to the challenges of research on the effects of radioactive fallout on marine plants and animals. This research became necessary because of the testing of nuclear bombs in the South Pacific Ocean.
During Dr. Rice's 35 years on Piver's Island, the laboratory went through many name changes and in 1971 became part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Dr. Rice served as Director of the Laboratory from 1967 until 1985, when he retired. In 1963, Dr. Rice and several of his staff were appointed Adjunct Professors at NC State University in the Zoology Department. An arrangement was subsequently made so that many graduate students from NCSU carried out their research for higher degrees at the NOAA Laboratory.
Dr. Rice was a member of several state and national committees. He served on the Governor's Marine Science Council, on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Water Quality, and on the National Research Council's Committee on Radioactivity in the Marine Environment. Dr. Rice served on NASA's Lunar Quarantine Operations Team which performed the planning and implementation of the Apollo Lunar Quarantine Program. This program was charged with the responsibility of preventing contamination of the earth's environment from the astronauts landing on the moon, and bringing back rocks from the surface of the moon. Dr. Rice was also a member of a committee that participated in a scientific exchange program with the scientists from the Soviet Union. In addition to participating in the publication of committee reports and books, Dr. Rice published over 50 scientific papers.
While employed by the federal government, Dr. Rice received a number of awards. Among these were an Annual Award given to a scientist selected from all the NOAA scientists for the year 1972 and an award from the National Marine Fisheries for the Outstanding Employee of the Year in Management and Supervision for the year 1984. In 1984, he received the North Carolina Distinguished Service Award. He was a member of the Toastmaster's Club and won an award as runner-up speaker for the region.
Dr. Rice was a member of the First Baptist Church of Morehead City and taught the 12-year-old boys' Sunday School class for a number of years. He was also a leader in the Cub Scouts and an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 130 of Boy Scouts. After his retirement in 1985 he became a Master Gardener in Florida, where he and Frankie lived part time for 12 years.
Dr. Rice is predeceased by his wife, Frankie M. Rice and is survived by his three sons, Dr. Theodore R. Rice and children, Zachary and Leah of Baldwinsville, NY, Dr. Gregory K. Rice and wife, Teresa and son, Jonathan of Durham, Dr. Philip Scott Rice and wife, Nancy and children, Philip and Hannah, and step-grandchildren, Katie and Beth Stillman.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 930-B Wellness Drive, Greenville, NC 27834.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.
Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home in Morehead City, NC.
A Memorial Service will be held 3:00 pm Saturday, June 18, 2011 at Munden Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Dr. Rice grew up in Eastern Kentucky and graduated from Berea College, Berea, KY in 1941. He entered the army during World War II, and served four years in the Chemical Warfare Corps, attaining the rank of Major. He married Frankie Mantooth in 1941 and they spent four years in Huntsville, Alabama.
Dr. Rice came to Morehead City, NC after receiving his PhD degree from Harvard University in 1949, to work with the Bureau of Fisheries on Piver's Island. Having received his PhD as a Marine Ecologist, he looked forward to the challenges of research on the effects of radioactive fallout on marine plants and animals. This research became necessary because of the testing of nuclear bombs in the South Pacific Ocean.
During Dr. Rice's 35 years on Piver's Island, the laboratory went through many name changes and in 1971 became part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Dr. Rice served as Director of the Laboratory from 1967 until 1985, when he retired. In 1963, Dr. Rice and several of his staff were appointed Adjunct Professors at NC State University in the Zoology Department. An arrangement was subsequently made so that many graduate students from NCSU carried out their research for higher degrees at the NOAA Laboratory.
Dr. Rice was a member of several state and national committees. He served on the Governor's Marine Science Council, on the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Water Quality, and on the National Research Council's Committee on Radioactivity in the Marine Environment. Dr. Rice served on NASA's Lunar Quarantine Operations Team which performed the planning and implementation of the Apollo Lunar Quarantine Program. This program was charged with the responsibility of preventing contamination of the earth's environment from the astronauts landing on the moon, and bringing back rocks from the surface of the moon. Dr. Rice was also a member of a committee that participated in a scientific exchange program with the scientists from the Soviet Union. In addition to participating in the publication of committee reports and books, Dr. Rice published over 50 scientific papers.
While employed by the federal government, Dr. Rice received a number of awards. Among these were an Annual Award given to a scientist selected from all the NOAA scientists for the year 1972 and an award from the National Marine Fisheries for the Outstanding Employee of the Year in Management and Supervision for the year 1984. In 1984, he received the North Carolina Distinguished Service Award. He was a member of the Toastmaster's Club and won an award as runner-up speaker for the region.
Dr. Rice was a member of the First Baptist Church of Morehead City and taught the 12-year-old boys' Sunday School class for a number of years. He was also a leader in the Cub Scouts and an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 130 of Boy Scouts. After his retirement in 1985 he became a Master Gardener in Florida, where he and Frankie lived part time for 12 years.
Dr. Rice is predeceased by his wife, Frankie M. Rice and is survived by his three sons, Dr. Theodore R. Rice and children, Zachary and Leah of Baldwinsville, NY, Dr. Gregory K. Rice and wife, Teresa and son, Jonathan of Durham, Dr. Philip Scott Rice and wife, Nancy and children, Philip and Hannah, and step-grandchildren, Katie and Beth Stillman.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 930-B Wellness Drive, Greenville, NC 27834.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.
Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home in Morehead City, NC.
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