Eugene Rice

Who was Eugene Rice?

Eugene Rice was a United States federal judge.

Born in Union City, Tennessee, Rice received a B.S. from Hall-Moody College in 1910 and an LL.B. from Valparaiso University in 1917. He was in the United States Army from 1917 to 1919. He was an Assistant county attorney of Duncan, Oklahoma in 1920. He was a County judge, Duncan, Oklahoma from 1920 to 1922. He was in private practice in Duncan, Oklahoma from 1922 to 1930. He was an Oklahoma state district judge from 1930 to 1937.

Rice was a federal judge on the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma. Rice was nominated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 3, 1937, to a seat vacated by Robert L. Williams. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on August 10, 1937, and received his commission on August 11, 1937. He served as chief judge from 1949-1963. He assumed senior status on December 1, 1963. Rice served in that capacity until November 24, 1967, due to his death.