Philip Rice

Philip Foy Rice, 85, of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, passed away on February 8, 2025.  Born on December 1, 1939, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He graduated from Pine Bluff High School in 1957, earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering in 1962 and MBA in 1965 from the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and earned a PhD in Industrial Management from Clemson University in 1968.  

He was preceded in death by his parents Buddy and Opal Rice.

Phil spent 60 years in higher education as a professor, an advisor, an administrator, and a sports fan. He spent most of his career as a faculty member at the Louisiana Tech University College of Business for 24 years and as the founding/first dean and faculty member at the Hickingbotham School of Business at Ouachita Baptist University for 32 years.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years Jane Brady Rice of Arkadelphia; son Alan Rice of Denton, TX; daughter SusanLee Rice Torrey and husband Robert of Denton, TX; son Steven Rice and wife Lianne of Keller, TX; and grandchildren Philip Torrey, Annamarie Torrey, Alexander Torrey, Garret Rice, and Lindy Rice.

The family will host a memorial service at 2pm on Sunday, February 16, 2025 at First United Methodist Church of Arkadelphia, AR.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hickingbotham School of Business at Ouachita Baptist University, Box 3754, Arkadelphia, AR 71998; the Humane Society of Clark County, P.O. Box 435, Arkadelphia, AR 71923; and First United Methodist Church of Arkadelphia, AR, 107 N. 9th St, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.

Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia.  Visit www.welchfh.net to sign the guest book.