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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Mr. William L. Rice

Although he ended his career as Curator of the History of Aviation Collection, housed in the Eugene McDermott Library of the University of Texas at Dallas, "Ed" Rice's interest in aviation began at age 5 (1917] with his first close look at an airplane. At age 8 he "began running errands for a local flying circus, soloed as a teenager, joined the circus, and flew Jennys in the 1920s. Following graduation from Portland Ind. High School, he began a professional career in aviation lasting over 60 years, first in engineering positions with Lockheed and Douglas Aircraft Corps. In California; as a partner in an aviation consulting firm during World War II; in management positions with the Stinson Aircraft Div. of Convair, operating Stinson and Aeronca aircraft distributorships for Southern California and Nevada; further management positions with Hiller Helicopters Inc., during which he toured the United States in a hand-built helicopter in 1949; executive positions with Aerojet-General Corp., where he was responsible for the Aerojet Jato program; and, before his appointment in 1978 to the UT-Dallas curator position, was Vice President-Marketing for DeVore Aviation Service Corp. in New York, and its subsidiary, the Pee Kay Aircraft Corp. Upon assuming the curator position, in addition to bringing his extensive knowledge and experience, he also brought his personal 12 ton aviation history and memorabilia collection to add to the university archives. A collection that represented a life-long interest in, and extensive contributions to, the field of aviation.