Ben Herbert Rice Jr.

Ben Herbert Rice, Jr. (December 12, 1889 – March 14, 1964) was a United States federal judge.

Born in Marlin, Texas, Rice received an LL.B. from the University of Texas in 1913, and both a B.A. and an LL.M. from that institution 1914. He was an assistant county attorney of Marlin from 1914 to 1917 before serving in the United States Army Air Corps during World War I, from 1917 to 1919. He returned to private practice in Marlin from 1919 to 1940, also working as a city attorney for Marlin from 1920 to 1929. He was Chief Justice of the Texas Court of Civil Appeals from 1940 to 1945.

On September 10, 1945, Rice was nominated by President Harry S Truman to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas vacated by Walter A. Keeling. Rice was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 19, 1945, and received his commission on September 28, 1945. He served as chief judge from 1948-1962. He thereafter served until his death, in Marlin.

Sources

• Ben Herbert Rice Jr. at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.