Former Trojan Bill Rice has joined the staff of the Pike County Economic Development Corporation as the office manager and assistant to Marsha Gaylard, PC-EDC president.

“I am excited that Bill and his family are moving back to Troy,” Gaylard said. “I believe he will be a great fit here at the Pike County Economic Development Center.  Bill already knows so many of the people in Troy and Pike County, which will make his transition into this job much easier.  We’re excited to have Bill as a part of our economic development team”

Rice has deep roots in Troy. His mother, Marsha Chapman Rice, was a Troy native and his dad, Bill Rice, Sr. came to the Troy with his family when he was in the fourth grade. He became the Troy historian and penned a historical reference book, titled “Troy 1838-2006.

“We moved to Troy when I was in the seventh grade but Troy already felt like home because we were here often to visit my grandparents,” Rice said. “I’m excited to be back in Troy and look forward to working in the area of economic development and being a part of the economic growth of Pike County. It’s good to be back among homefolks.”

Rice is a 1983 graduate of Charles Henderson High School and takes great pride in being a member of the CHHS’ state championship football team in 1980.

“I was the third string quarterback and held the blocking dummy,” Rice said laughing. “I went to Alabama but came back and graduated from Troy as a member of Dr. Ralph Adams’ last commencement ceremony in 1989.

Rice was attending law school with plans to enter the legal profession. However, his friend, Wes Gaylard, mentioned that the sportswriter’s position at The Messenger was open. Knowing Rice’s talent as a writer, Gaylard suggested that he apply for the position.

 

“I got the job and stayed with it for two years and then went to work with the Pike County Chamber and learned a lot about Pike County,” he said. “My involvement in Troy and Pike County motivated me to consider going back into the newspaper business. I loved writing and sharing the stories of our community and our people was something that I wanted to do.”

Rice opened The Troy Citizen weekly newspaper and ran it successfully for seven years. Rice then moved to Montgomery where he worked in sales and later returned to the newspaper business with The Montgomery Independent.

Rice’s wife, Carrie, teaches English at Charles Henderson High School and was commuting from Montgomery.

“We both are excited to be moving home to Troy,” Rice said. “Troy is a great city an ideal place to raise a family. I was very happy growing up here and I want the same for my children, Maggie who will be in the first grade and Jack, who is two. We’re all happy to be in Troy and look forward to be involved and active in the community and all Pike County.”