Claremore Assistant City Manager Stan Brown (left) presents Dr. Larry Rice with signage to be placed on Camden Road, denoting it as “Rice Drive” in the future.
According to Winston Churchill, we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give, and few have given more to Rogers State University over the past 16 years than its President Dr. Larry Rice and its First Lady Peggy Rice.
Last weekend, the university to which Dr. and Mrs. Rice gave so much of themselves honored their contributions and commitment to education at a Celebration of Service event.
Held Saturday, May 18, this once-in-a-career event brought together Rice’s family, friends, admirers, and co-workers past and present for an evening to pay tribute to the lives and the legacies of Dr. and Mrs. Rice.
Serving as master of ceremonies for the evening was former general manager of RSU Public TV Royal Aills.
“My first interaction with Peggy was as the GM of RSU Public TV,” Aills told the standing-room only crowd. “She helped me in a lot of ways. This lady was so creative, and she was not afraid to make a phone call for me. What I loved about her was her creativity. She knew everybody in town, she knew everybody in Tulsa, so she helped me to get to know people so they could become a member of RSU Public TV. She did that graciously.
“She was a farm girl from Osage County, a survivor of breast cancer, a successful businesswoman who was honored by President Clinton and 16 years serving as this institution’s First Lady, and in my heart, she still does,” he said.
Aills then introduced a video tribute to Peggy, followed by pre-recorded remarks 2012 RSU Alumna Kelsey Romig.
“Dr. Rice and Peggy are two of the most wonderful people I’ve ever met in my life,” Romig said. “They exude warmth, compassion, and drive to make anyone they encounter feel seen, heard, and valued.”
“Peggy was – and will always be – one of the most exceptional people I’ve ever had the privilege of having had in my life,” she said, “and as for the other half of that dynamic duo. Dr. Rice – you have left a special mark on RSU and you’re leaving behind hard shoes to fill. Thank you for being so active on campus. Dr. Rice, your smile and generosity are infectious. You are a fearless leader, and I looked to you so many times while attending RSU for guidance and ways to lead.
“As an alumna, I came back for Honors Day and you were there,” she said. “It had been years since I’d graduated and you remembered me, you remembered my name, you asked me how I was doing. You always made me feel seen, special, and appreciated. Not once in your presence did I feel like I was any less than you. You treated me as a colleague, and I will forever be grateful for that – for you. You and Peggy will always hold a special place in my heart.”
After Romig’s comments, Aills presented a video tribute to Dr. Rice, followed by remarks by RSU Education Specialist Katie Navarro.
“It’s truly an honor and a privilege to be standing here today,” Navarro said. “It feels a little bit like the end of an era. You – Dr. Rice – came to RSU shortly after I arrived here, and I remember, as a student worker, being told the new president was coming around.
“I was a high school dropout and a single parent, this was my first time having a job – and I just remember thinking ‘I’m about to meet the president – an important person’,” she continued. “I remember two things from that day. You introduced yourself to everybody, you asked their name and shook their hand and when you shook my hand, you told me, ‘That’s a great handshake,’ and it threw me off. When you left, I remember thinking that I’d just met an important person, but you didn’t act like you were an important person.
“That struck me about Dr. Rice – his humbleness, his character,” she said. “You (Dr. Rice) not only talk the talk, but you walk the walk every day for the students, for the faculty, for the staff. You truly care and it shows, and that’s unparalleled. I’m so grateful to you for mentoring me over the years. You have a quality about you when you speak. You speak from such an honest and authentic and genuine place and people trust what you say. It shows your integrity. It’s truly been an honor working with and learning from you over the years. You’ve really left a legacy here at RSU. Thank you for all these years of service and dedication to RSU. It’s a community here, a family, and you and Peggy have been the glue that’s held that family together.”
Further tributes were paid to Rice by OMA Alumni Association President Ken Colley, Foundation Chairman Nick Harris, and Anita Holloway from the OU Board of Regents.
“Coming to Rogers State is one of my favorite things as a Regent,” Holloway said. “Similar to my views, President Rice’s commitment to RSU was formed in his youth. He grew up in a working-class family in Mazie, Oklahoma, and viewed education as an opportunity. He eventually attended both Claremore Junior College and Northeastern State University, which instilled in him an appreciation of smaller universities. One of his favorite sayings is ‘Education is the closest thing we have to magic’, and isn’t that so true?
“His belief in the life-changing impact of education – at all levels, but especially higher education – has made Dr. Rice an effective advocate for Rogers State and for all public higher education in Oklahoma,” she said. “He has truly made his life’s work serving the state, through being a legislator and serving as president here at Rogers State.
“As a Regent, I’ve witnessed his passion as he’s advocated fiercely for Rogers State,” she said. “He’s always looked for opportunities to make RSU more accessible and always affordable, so that every student who wanted the opportunity to earn a degree can succeed. His care for future success and his pride in the accomplishments of RSU students is clear, and their respect and love in return is obvious. He is simply exactly what you would want in a college president – he’s honest, tenacious, he’s a visionary, and he cares.
“Alongside President Rice was his wife, Peggy, and when you look at the job (as college president), it’s not just a job, it’s a life. Every event in the community, everything that goes on, you’re there,” she said. “Wherever you go, you’re representing the institution, so Peggy was a natural support for Larry. It was an incredible partnership between the two of them here at Rogers State. Clearly, RSU has been so lucky to have them here and I know they will both be missed on the Hill.”
Holloway concluded her remarks with the announcement that, because of Rice’s loyalty, character, commitment, exemplary record of excellence to RSU, the region and the state, he would be designated the President Emeritus of Rogers State University at the Regent’s next formal meeting in June.
Also making a presentation was Assistant City Manager Stan Brown, who presented Rice with a street sign bearing his surname to be placed on Camden Drive leading into campus as a reminder to the legacy, forethought, leadership and guidance of he and Peggy.
Following Brown was keynote speaker the Honorable Stratton Taylor, attorney and the longest-serving president pro tempore of the Oklahoma Senate.
“There’s a history of married couples on this Hill. Richard and Mary Mosier, who did so much for this institution in its transition from Oklahoma Military Academy to Claremore Junior College, for example,” Taylor began. “There are many, but we’re here tonight to honor one of those couples: Dr. Larry Rice and his wife, Peggy.
“Peggy was beloved, not just in this community, but across the state of Oklahoma, and as you saw in the video, she did so much here,” he said. “Trust me on this. Being the spouse of a college president is tough. It’s not easy, but Peggy Rice embraced being first lady. She didn’t just endure it, she loved it and she embraced it. I think it’s important to always remember that.
“Now, Larry…I first met Larry Rice in the mid-1980s. I was already in the (Oklahoma) state senate and he told me he was going to run (for the House),” he said. “I realized that he was running for the right reasons – he wanted to make progress because the status quo was unacceptable, he wanted to improve education, he wanted to improve our transportation, he wanted to do things for veterans, he wanted to do things for mental health. He had a servant’s heart. He wanted to help anybody and everybody. He wanted to make things better, which he did, but no matter how much his career blossomed, he – and Peggy – always prioritized time with family, which spoke highly of their priorities.”
Taylor then commented on Dr. Rice’s transition to president of RSU, noting his accomplishments during his tenure on the Hill, among these, the addition of a dining hall, the renovation of the OMA Museum and numerous other buildings on campus, the creation of an MBA program, a master’s program in counseling, a master’s program in nursing, the addition of a chemical engineering program, and much more.
“Those things don’t just happen at a university without the right person at the helm,” he said. “That’s why RSU’s future looks so bright, because of everything Larry did while he was here,” he said. “When you look at the legacy – and I’ve only touched on a few things – when I think about Larry, about RSU’s third president in 50 years, I think about how lucky we’ve been to have that kind of leadership, and to have had 16 years of leadership from Larry and Peggy.
“I’m reminded of the famous Harry Caray who was broadcasting for the Cardinals when Stan Musial came to bat for the last time after 23 years. Caray said, ‘Take a look. Take a good look. You won’t see the likes of him again for a long time’,” Taylor said. “That’s how it is with Larry Rice. Take a look. Take a good look because we won’t see the likes of him for a long time, but we sure were lucky to have seen him.”
Taylor then introduced Dr. Rice, who was met with a standing ovation as he took the stage.
“On behalf of Peggy and I, thank you so much for all of those kind words,” he said. “She was here just as long as I was and, while I was getting paid to be here, she was here as a volunteer, and she loved every minute of it.”
Dr. Rice recognized his family members, the Regents, the Cherokee Nation, his staff past and present, and all who have worked to improve education and advance opportunities at Rogers State University.
“Thank you, God bless you, and may God continue to bless Rogers State,” he said. “I’m so humbled and honored. Thank you for being here to honor Peggy and me.”
Dr. Rice will continue serving as president of Rogers State University through July 3, 2024, after which time, Dr. Mark Rasor will serve as interim president of the university.