Jonas “Joe” Shearn Rice was born on this day in 1902, in Texas, to David and Martha Botts Rice.
Joe attended school in Houston and studied at the University of Virginia. After college he was associated with the Anderson Clayton Company, working in the buying and export division of this cotton business.
He and his brother, Tom, came to Winston-Salem in 1931. They were co-managers of the Dr. Pepper Bottling Company, and Joe served as president of the company. This later became the Northwest Beverage Company.
Joe was associated with the YMCA as director and past president, and was a member of the Forsyth County Airport Commission. He was also a member of the board of directors of Wachovia Bank & Trust Company, Southern Broadcasting Company, Dr. Pepper Company of Dallas, the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, and the local chapter of the American Red Cross.
He was married first to Virginia Lash Dunklee and second to Rosalie Hanes Moore.
Joe passed away in 1974.
Photo courtesy of Forsyth County Public Library Photograph Collection.
