Com.
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RICHARD M. DALEY
MAYOR
February 9, 2011
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Together with Alderman Rugai, I transmit herewith a resolution honoring the life and memory of Fred Rice, Jr.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this Chamber were deeply saddened to learn of the death on January 10, 2011, at age 84, of Fred Rice, Jr., the first African-American Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department; and
WHEREAS, Born in Chicago on December 24, 1926, Mr. Rice attended John Farren Elementary School, DuSable High School, and Wilson Junior College of Chicago. An avid reader and firm believer in the value of a college education, Mr. Rice received Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Roosevelt University in Public Administration, and graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Executive Institute in Quantico, Virginia; and
WHEREAS, A recipient of two battle stars and a combat infantry badge award, Mr. Rice served his country with pride and distinction as a member of the United States Army from 1950 to 1952 during the Korean War, and he was later invited back to Korea to receive a special commendation for his military service by the government of South Korea. Mr. Rice continued his honorable service in the United States Army as a reservist from 1952 to 1972, where he achieved a rank of Sergeant Major; and
WHEREAS, In 1955, Mr. Rice became a patrolman in the Chicago Park District Police Department, and in 1959, he joined the Chicago Police Department when the two departments merged; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Rice, through hard work and dedication, rose through the ranks within the Chicago Police Department and was promoted to several distinguished positions, including Accident Investigator, Detective in 1960, Sergeant in 1963, Lieutenant in 1968, District Commander in 1970, Deputy Chief of Patrol in 1978, and Chief of Patrol in 1980; and
WHEREAS, In 1983, Mr. Rice was appointed Superintendent of the Chicago Police Department by the late Mayor Harold Washington, the position he held until his retirement in 1987. A tough, fair and visionary leader, Mr. Rice was credited for promoting diversity, integration and communication among the officers of the Chicago Police Department; and
WHEREAS, After his retirement from the Chicago Police Department, Mr. Rice served as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at the University of Illinois from 1990 to 2001; lectured in numerous countries all over the world, including Cyprus, China, Thailand, England and Saudi Arabia; taught criminal justice in an exchange program with the University of Cairo, Egypt, where he lived for three months; traveled to Havana, Cuba, to research local police custom; and worked as a security consultant for Federal Signal Corporation from 1995 to 2003; and
WHEREAS, A founding member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Officers, Mr. Rice was active in numerous social organizations, including the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, the Royal Coterie of Snakes and the Chicago Network Couples Club; and
WHEREAS, An extraordinary man, whose commitment to public service never waned, Mr. Rice will always be remembered for his many contributions to the City of Chicago, and for his intelligence, inspiration, courage, faith, and hope; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Rice is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Thelma; his son, Lyle; his daughter, Judith; his sister, Beverly Jones; his sister-in-law, Donna Rice; his granddaughters, Jasmin and Sarah Rice, and a host of other dear relatives and friends; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this ninth day of February, 2011, do hereby honor the life and memory of Fred Rice, Jr., and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the family of Fred Rice, Jr., as a sign of our sympathy and good wishes.