Rice, Thomas Geale, 1905-1962

Thomas G. Rice, musician, historian, journalist, and photographer, was born in Port Arthur on October 11, 1905, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Rice, of the Thomas Rice Steamship Co. Tommy Rice, as he was known, graduated from Ball High School and attended Rice Institute. He studied music in Europe and after an unsuccessful try at the steamship business, Rice focused on his love of music, history and journalism. Rice became a reporter for the Galveston News and eventually the Houston Post . Prior to his death he was working on a book on the history of Galveston. During World War II Rice and his family were in England, where he married Irene, an English woman. Rice died in 1962 from an accidental fall, leaving behind two children, John E. Rice and Susan Rice. A collection of his papers can be found at the Rosenberg Library, where he served on the board of trustees for many years.