Herbert Howard Rice
Final Rites for H. H. Rice
Held Thursday in Detriot
(Detroit News Nov 16)
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Herbert Howard Rice
25 Feb 1870 - 12 Nov 1938 |
Herbert Howard Rice Former General Motors Corporation executive and widely known in the automotive industry, died of a
heart attack Tuesday while hunting at the Black Ranch River Ranch, near Onaway, Mich. He was 68 years old.
A hunting companion C. R. Brand, of Detroit, and Mr. Rice separated after agreeing to meet later. When Mr. Rice failed
to appear Brand started to hunt for him and found his body along a road about three miles from the lodge.
Few men in the automotive industry attained the recognition and leadership Mr. Rice enjoyed during an eventf ul
career which began with a bicycle firm at Boston, Mass., almost a half a century ago his ability brought recognition to
him in other fields beyond the industry with which he was affiliated.
He was born at Providence, R.I. on Feb. 25, 1870. Graduating from Brown University in 1892 with an A.B. degree, he
became affiliated with the Pope Manufacturing Co. of Boston, bicycle, as advertising manager. Later he entered the s
sales department, and in 1898 became branch manager of the Providence branch where Cadillac Automobile franchise was taken
on as a side line to the bicycle business.
In 1904 Mr. Rice went to Indianapolis, as manager of the Waverly Automobile plant, he was was promoted to vice-president
and finally president of the company.
Accepting the post as treasurer of General Motors Corporation, Mr. Rice came to Detroit in 1916. Two years later he was
made vice-president of the corporation. In 1921 he became president and general manager of the Cadillac Motor Car Company
and headed this company until 1925, when he was made assistant to the president of General Motors Corporation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Rice served as chairman of the Pan-American Road Congress commission and was a delegate from the United States
to Road Congresses in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Milan, Italy. In 1930 he was appointed by President Hoover as a member of
the Alaskan Road Commission, charged with construction of all roads in Alaska, including an international motor highway across
British Columbia and Alaska. This was to connect eventually with the proposed international Pacific Highway from Fairbanks,
Alaska to Buenos Aires.
Mr. Rice left General Motors Corp. in 1931 to become president of the Sweet Oil Refining Co.
He was a former president of the National Way Labor Board, former director of the Indianapolis and Detroit Boards of Commerce a
trustee of Brown University and had been affiliated with other organizations.
He was interested in boys' work and for the last ten years was on the board of directors of the Y.M.C.A.
Although he had maintained a residence in Detroit since 1916, Mr. Rice had a summer home at Lake Maxinkuckee, Culver , Ind.
Surviving are his wife Edith R. Bowen Brown, whom he married in 1896; two daughters, Dr. Carol Margaret Rice, a fac ulty member
at Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, Va. and Mrs. Catherine Rice Broock of Bloomfield Hills; two sons Gordon O. and Martin B.
Rice of Detroit; and six grandchildren. The family home is at 18202 Oak Drive.
Private funeral services will be held in the William R. Hamilton Company Chapel, 3975 Cass Avenue. Thursday afternoon.