Hall of Fame Member Biographies
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Larry Rice
Dr. Larry Rice served as the 14th president of Rogers State University and its predecessor institutions from 2008 until his retirement in 2024. He is an Oklahoma native with more than 40 years of experience in higher education. Reared in Mayes County, Rice graduated from Mazie Elementary in 1967 and Chouteau High School in 1971. He was later involved in establishing the Chouteau-Mazie Public School Foundation, CLASS. He earned a doctorate of education from Oklahoma State University, writing his doctoral dissertation on “Eighty Years of University Preparatory Education on College Hill,” a history of the institution presently known as RSU. He earned both his master’s in education and bachelor’s in criminal justice from Northeastern State University.
Rice began his academic career in 1979 as a full-time faculty member at RSU when it was still Claremore Junior College, teaching classes in criminal justice, psychology and sociology. From 1979-1986, he was director of the Applied Science Division and had the privilege of establishing the Pryor campus in 1986, serving as its first director of academics. Prior to becoming RSU president in 2008, Rice served in several roles at the University of Tulsa. Beginning in 1991, he was a member of the advancement staff and served as director of public affairs from 1991-1997 before being named interim vice president for advancement from 1997-1998. Rice was also chief of staff to the president from 1997-2008.
Under Rice’s stewardship, Rogers State added new degree programs and partnerships to create more opportunities for students to follow their dreams. He developed the university villages to expand campus housing, including a full-service cafeteria, an underground storm shelter and an alternative power source. Rice was instrumental in helping to build a partnership with MidAmerica Industrial Park to construct a $10 million building in 2014 for use as Rogers State University-Pryor. Rice has been successful in fundraising for RSU, securing several million dollars in private gifts to advance the university’s mission, including strong support from the Cherokee Nation and the Oklahoma Legislature to fund a new Center for Science and Technology. The late First Lady Peggy Rice, who was Dr. Rice’s co-partner in numerous endeavors, played a crucial role in achieving many goals both on campus at Rogers State University and in the community. The late First Lady assisted in the University’s fundraising by hosting events at the President’s Residence and played a key role in town and gown relationships. She established a Cooking Class program with the President’s Leadership Class that became a much anticipated event, was one of the University’s most prominent ambassadors and a passionate champion of students.
Rice has served on multiple boards and received numerous awards and commendations for his public service and commitment to higher education. His service to The Oklahoma Academy for State Goals exceeded 30 years, and he was recognized as the Claremore Area Chamber of Commerce 2023 Citizen of the Year. Upon retiring from RSU, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education named him president emeritus.