Representative David Fulton Rice View All Years

HON. D. FULTON RICE

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to prepare a resolution and a befitting memorial on the life, character and public service of the Honorable D. Fulton Rice, a member of the Forty-first and Forty-second and Forty-second extra General Assemblies, beg leave to report as follows:

D. Fulton Rice was born September 13, 1889, on a farm southeast of Exline, Appanoose county, and met his death at the hands of an assassin in the court yard at Centerville, Iowa, February 28, 1929. His parents still living are John F. and Sarah E. Hibbs-Rice. The parents and family were God-fearing people, and David Fulton was raised a Christian and was during all of his adult life a member of and an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, Sunday School and all other organizations of the church, and a member of the official board.

Mr. Rice attended the country schools in the township in which he was raised as a boy until old enough to take an active part in farm life. After a few years of work on the farm he was seemingly suddenly struck with the determination to get an education. At the age of nineteen he returned to the country schools. Due to the moderate circumstances of the family, getting an education seemed almost impossible, but this was no barrier to D. Fulton Rice. After attending the country school for six months he passed the county examinations in Putnam county, Missouri, and taught one term at the Friendship country school in that county. Next year he attended Kirksville Normal school and then taught again for a period. His next step was a course in the Drake University law school at Des Moines, where he worked his way, and then a course in the University of Michigan, finishing his studies in the law office of Valentine & Hayes in Centerville. He passed the bar examination before the Supreme Court of Iowa in June, 1917, and entered the practice of law in Centerville. After a difficult struggle in the law field here he moved to Knoxville and opened an office in that city and practiced there for a little more than a year.

This period was a struggle and he finally decided that his home was the place for him and he again established an office in Centerville and determined to make the fight of his life for a name and a portion of this world’s goods in a place where competition seemed to be the strongest. During the World War he enlisted and was assigned to the Judge Advocate’s office at Camp Beauregard, Alexandria, Louisiana. During the time he was in this service his many friends made him Democratic nominee to congress from the eighth district. He was defeated mainly because of his youth and the overwhelming majority attendant to the opposing party.

Elected to the legislature in 1925 by a good majority, he served two terms and one extra session, and was even proposed as a candidate for the governorship of Iowa on the Democratic ticket, by a large number of his loyal friends and admirers. Mr. Rice was always an active worker for his party and made it a point to attend all the sessions of his party whenever possible and had attended the recent Democratic National Convention at Houston, Texas. Because of his meeting so many learned attorneys and leaders of politics and his experience as a law maker and legislator, coupled with his extensive practice at home, he was considered one of the leaders of the Iowa bar and even by some an authority on some of the fine points of law. It is common knowledge that Mr. Rice always retained a friend once meeting him, and he was just at the place where the bigger things were opening to him.

The tragic taking of this young man’s life for no reason at all is a blow felt by the entire state and by many all over the country. A grief-stricken wife and children have lost a most dutiful husband and father. The mother and father have lost a virtuous son, the brothers and sisters have lost a loving brother, the United States and the state of Iowa have lost a good and useful citizen.

He was married June 22, 1919, to Ruth Rhea and to this union has been born two children, David Fulton Jr. and Eleanor Rhea. His home life to all those who knew him intimately was an inspiration and an example. His life outside the home was filled to the brim with kindness, love and friendliness. He was active socially as much as his work permitted, being a member of the Knights of Pythians and Masonic orders and the Ray C. Walden Post American Legion.

The violent taking of this young man from his family and hosts of friends seems a tragedy for which there is no atonement.

Therefore, Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Forty-third General Assembly, That in the death of Honorable D. Fulton Rice this state has lost a loyal citizen, a man of fine ideals and public spirit, and this House by this resolution tenders its sympathy to the family that survives; and

Be It Further Resolved, That these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the House, and an enrolled copy sent to the surviving members of the family.

HOWARD BALLEW,

LEONARD SIMMER,

JOHN F. KLINE,

Committee.

Unanimously adopted April 8, 1929.