09/04/2026
The Gamecock family is mourning the loss of Joe Rice, a two-time alumnus (B.S. '76, J.D. '79) and one of the most transformative benefactors in our university's history.
A nationally respected litigator, Joe played a significant role in landmark civil litigation involving asbestos liabilities, the to***co industry and more. In 2023, his $30 million gift to USC funded scholarships, endowed professorships and support for students pursuing children's law — and led to our law school being renamed the Joseph F. Rice School of Law in his honor. The Rice Athletics Center also carries his family's name, a reflection of generosity that reached across our campus for decades.
USC President Michael Amiridis said it best: "Joe Rice was a man whose impressive combination of intellect, character, wisdom, spirit and generosity defined a life that made an outsized impact on the world he inhabited. Such a rare man leaves an imprint that lives on long beyond his lifespan, and this will inevitably be true for Joe. The University of South Carolina was honored to know him as an alumnus, friend, benefactor, and one of the greatest Gamecocks of our time."
Joe's generosity will continue to shape the lives of students for generations to come. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and everyone who loved him.