W. THOMAS RICE DIES, RETIRED RAIL OFFICIAL:
William Thomas Rice, a decorated soldier and railroad visionary who was instrumental in the 1980 creation of CSX Corporation, died in Richmond, Va., Febr.5 after a brief illness. He was 93.
Mr. Rice began his railroad career in 1934 with the Pennsylvania Railroad. He rose from track supervisor to lead railroads that today are part of CSX Transportation, Inc.
Following active duty in the Army in 1946, he joined the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad and was named its president in 1955. He was appointed president of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company in 1957, and was elected president and director of the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Company in 1967 upon the merger of the ACL and Seaboard Air Line Railroads.
He also served as chairman of SCL Industries, the merged company's parent, and chairman of The Family Lines, the combined name for the SCL and the Louisville & Nashville Railroad Company, among others.
[CSX, 2-7-06]