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John Stanley Rice (January 28, 1899 – August 2, 1985) was an American Democratic politician, farmer and businessman from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Rice served in a variety of appointed and elected political roles over the course of a three-decade political career.[8]

Background

A native of Brysonia, a small town several miles north of Gettysburg, Rice graduated from Gettysburg College. He became a successful apple grower, and went on to manufacture packaged apple products. He often returned to this business between political appointments. Rice was a Lutheran.

Political career

Rice was elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1932.[9] He was elected Democratic floor leader in 1937, following the resignation of Warren Roberts, who took office as State Auditor General.[6] He was elected the Senate's President pro tempore in 1939.

In 1946, he was the Democratic nominee for governor, but lost to Republican State Attorney General James Duff.

Gubernatorial appointments

Rice (fourth from right) with President Kennedy and other ambassadors in March 1961

In 1955, Governor George Leader named Rice to the first round of appointments to the overhauled Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. He resigned from the board later that year, when Leader appointed him Secretary of the Department of Property and Supplies (now the Department of General Services).

After resigning from the cabinet in 1957, he returned to his apple farm and packaging business.[4] However, in 1958, Leader again appointed Rice to a position in his cabinet, having him succeed the deceased James Finnegan as Secretary of the Commonwealth.[2] Rice was also elected chair of the State Democratic Party in 1959.

In 1961, Rice received his final political appointment, when President Kennedy named him U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands. He stepped-down from the position three years later.

Death and legacy

Rice died in Fort Lauderdale in August 1985.[8]

Rice Hall, on the campus of Gettysburg College, is named in his honor.[10] He had served as a trustee of the college from 1939 until 1972, when he retired to Fort Lauderdale.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Mention Rice For Barr Post". The Gettysburg Times. July 9, 1959. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Rice Returns To Place In State Cabinet". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 9, 1958. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  3. ^ "Cohn Succeeds Rice On Liquor Control Board". The Gettysburg Times. December 28, 1955. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Head of State Agency Resigns". The Washington Reporter. August 1, 1957. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  5. ^ Cox, Harold (2004). "Pennsylvania Senate - 1937-1938" (PDF). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  6. ^ a b "Threat Seen To Milk Bill". The Reading Eagle. April 26, 1937. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  7. ^ Sharon Trostle, ed. (2009). The Pennsylvania Manual (PDF). Vol. 119. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Department of General Services. ISBN 0-8182-0334-X.
  8. ^ a b c d "John S. Rice, A Former Envoy". The New York Times. August 4, 1985. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  9. ^ Cox, Harold. "Senate Members R". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  10. ^ "Housing Details: Rice Hall". Gettysburg College Residence Life. Gettysburg College. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by United States Ambassador to the Netherlands
1961–1964
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
1958–1961
Succeeded by
Preceded by Pennsylvania Secretary of the Department of Property and Supplies
1955–1957
Succeeded by
Preceded by
New Appointment
Member of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
1955
Succeeded by
Preceded by President pro tempore1 of the Pennsylvania Senate
1939–1940
Succeeded by
Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded by Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 33rd District
1933–1940
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Chairman of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party
1959–1961
Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic Leader of the Pennsylvania Senate
1937–1938
Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania
1946
Succeeded by
Notes and references
1. Acting President from 1938–1939