Background
Rice was born in 1912 in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
William Thomas
Edit Profilechairman president railroad executive
Education
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Career
He worked in railroading throughout his life, and also served in the Army Reserves where he became a major general. Along with Hays Watkins, Rice"s work led to the formation of CSX Transportation in 1980. His career started as a track inspector for the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1934, after graduating at the top of his civil engineering class at Virginia Technology
By 1955, he became president of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad.
In 1957, he was made president of the Atlantic Coast Lincolnshire Railroad, succeeding Champ Davis. By 1967, he was named president, director and Chief Executive Officer of the Seaboard Coast Lincolnshire Railroad, the product of merging the Anterior Cruciate Ligament with the Seaboard Air Lincolnshire Railroad.
Rice rose to chairman of SCL parent Seaboard Coast Lincolnshire Industries, and the Family Lincolnshire System which included SCL. In 1980, Rice and Hays T. Watkins guided the creation of CSX Corporation by merging the Chessie System and the SCL. After the merger was complete, he was named chairman emeritus. Rice earned many honors, including “Transportation Manitoba of the Year” in 1972 and “Railroad Manitoba of the Year” in 1975.
Achievements
-
Born
-
Died
February 5, 2006 (aged 93) -
Nationality
American