Obituary of WM Russell Rice

<b>Online Obituaries for Lexington, Frankfort, and Versailles KY</b> Born, Paintsville, Ky., 11/07/24, son of Russell Ganes and Alpha Bowe Rice, both of Johnson County, Ky. Russell was preceded in death by his parents, Ganes and Alpha Bowe Rice; siblings, Leveda Wells, Gloria, Randy and Darrell Rice. Russell is survived by his son, Rusty (Irene) of Ormond Beach, FL; his daughters Sandy Gardiner and Judy Covington of Georgetown, KY; daughter Kimberly Stevens, Lexington, KY; his granddaughters, Lori Bergman, Cindy Covington and Tracy Hudson of Georgetown, KY, Kristen Rice, San Francisco, CA, Kaitlyn Stevens, Cincinnati, OH, Lindsay Rice, Reading, PA; Grandson, Matthew Gardiner, Louisville, KY; his great-grandchildren Victoria Covington, Emma Kate and Landon Bergman of Georgetown, KY, Camden Welch and Harper Grace Dahlia; His brothers Jimmy (Millie), Erlanger, KY, Bobby (Dixie) Kendalville, IN and many nieces and nephews. Moved to Van Lear at an early age. Played three sports at Van Lear High School. Attended Army Signal Corps School March 1942 until October, 1942. Served in U.S. Marine Corps 1943-45. (two years in South Pacific). Started as radar specialist with 4th AAA Bn. on Guadalcanal; ended in HS Co., 28th "Flag-Raising" Regiment, 5th. Mar. Div. in Hilo, Hawaii; wrote letters to families of regimental Marines killed on Iwo Jima. With first troops ashore at Sasebo, Kyushu, Japan. Attended Kentucky Wesleyan College 1947; University of Kentucky 1948-51. B.A. in Journalism. Played baseball (catcher) as freshman at Wesleyan. Sports Editor Seminar at Columbia University 1967. Worked truck mines in the Garrett-Lackey-Wayland area during summer vacations and holidays in late '40s to supplement attending college on the GI Bill-Shot, loaded, laid track, timbered, pulled pillars; "Load Sixteen tons and what do you get?" Married Doris Marie Thacker, of Lackey, Ky., in Lexington Jan. 5, 1951; lost her to Alzheimer's in August 2005. 1951-52-City Editor, Whitesburg (KY), "Mountain Eagle" 1952-53-City Editor, "Hazard (Ky.), Herald". 1953-62-The 'Lexington Leader: Police reporter, court reporter, investigative reporter'. (Traveling companion of John Robsion, Republican candidate for governor of Kentucky during his campaign vs. Bert Combs). Also served as Business Page Editor, Farm Page Editor, Church Page Editor, Kentucky correspondent for Religious News Service; Tobacco Magazine; and Time/Life/Fortune magazines. Wrote column, "Sporting Trails" for the Leader. On special assignment to congressional tobacco hearings in Washington, school bus wreck near Prestonsburg, and mine strikes in east Kentucky. Wrote series of stories on need for doctors in east Kentucky that appeared in The Leader, which bound them in booklet form and presented same to the Kentucky General Assembly in support of the proposed Chandler Medical Center. Nominated for Pulitzer Prize. 1962-67-Sports Editor, The Lexington Leader. 1967-68-Assistant sports information director, U of Ky. 1968-1987-UK Sports Information Director 1989-Retired as Assistant Athletic Director. 1990-Chief writer and production manager, Collegiate Collection. Hardback books: KENTUCKY WILDCATS: A Story of Kentucky Football KENTUCKY BASKETBALL'S BIG BLUE MACHINE (Award Winner) JOE B. HALL: My Own Kentucky Home THE WILDCAT LEGACY, a pictorial history. ADOLPH RUPP; Kentucky's Basketball Baron (Award Winner) THE KENTUCKY BASKETBALL VAULT "A Readers Guide to UK Hoops" "Big Blue Nation: Kentucky Basketball's Native Son's and Daughters" " Kentucky Football: Graveyard or Sleeping Giant" Contributor A HISTORY OF THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF KENTUCKY (Award Winning) THE KENTUCKY ENCYCLOPEDIA (Award Winning) Since retiring in 1989: 1987-Present--Weekly sports column for the Cats' Pause. 1989-90--Managing editor of The Cat's Pause. 1990-91--Chief writer production manager of Collegiate Collections, producer of college sports trading cards. (Also worked trading card shows in Kentucky, Ohio and Florida). 1996-2008--Editor, Port Orange Elks Bulletin; placed first in state. (2002), several other Top Five finishes; Port Orange Elk of the Year in 2003. 1996--Honorary member Florida Sheriff's Association. All-American Football citation. 1970's-- moonlighted as publicity director for night harness racing at Louisville Downs and Lexington's Big Red Mile. (Also P.R. director for Kentucky State Harness Racing Commission). Member Outdoor Writers of America...former state Bait-Casting champion and president of the Kentucky Bait-Casting Association. Enjoys reading, music, fishing, gardening, genealogy, and computers. Former Religious Sports Writer of the Year. Scoutmaster of troops in Whitesburg, Hazard, and Lexington. Taught Sunday School in Garrett and Whitesburg. Choir member at Garrett Methodist Church. Founding elder of Southland Christian, in Lexington. Former member of Board at Daytona Beach Drive-In Christian Church. Began snow-birding in 1990, moved to South Daytona permanently in 1996. 2009-Grand Marshal, Van Lear Town Celebration. 2011-Inducted into University of Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. <b>Funeral Information</b> A gathering of family and friends will be held 5-8 pm, Thursday, June 11, 2015 at Clark Legacy Center, Brannon Crossing. A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 am, Friday, June 12, 2015 at Clark Legacy Center, Brannon Crossing with burial to follow at Camp Nelson National Cemetery.