John Rice Jr

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John Wesley Rice Jr. (born November 3, 1923 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; died December 24, 2000 in Palo Alto, California) was a Presbyterian minister and former Dean of Students at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa. He was the son of John Rice Sr and father of Condoleezza Rice.

Rice attended Stillman and graduated from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1948. He was ordained later that year in the Central Alabama Presbytery and succeeded his father in the pulpit of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Titusville in 1951.

Rice also worked as a teacher and basketball coach at Fairfield Industrial High School, where he met fellow teacher Angelena Ray. They were married by his father at her parent's home in Hooper City on February 14, 1954. Their daughter, Condoleezza, was born nine months later.

Rice later served as a guidance counselor at Ullman High School. Angelena also transferred to Ullman and taught science and music.

Rice remained pastor at Westminster until 1965 and served as Dean of Students at Stillman from 1965 to 1968. In 1969, Rice accepted the position of professor and assistant vice chancellor at the University of Denver, Colorado.

Four years after Angelena's death in 1985, Rice married Clara Bailey. He retired to California, where he remained active as a tutor in local schools and mentor to the Stanford University football team.

References

  • "John Wesley Rice Jr., 77, Father of Bush Adviser." (December 29, 2000) The New York Times
  • Bumiller, Elisabeth (2007) Condoleezza Rice: An American Life. New York, New York: Random House ISBN 9781400065905
  • Hamilton, Jessica (May 25, 2010) "Rice celebrates integration, honors father at local church." UAB Kaleidoscope