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"With Tom's death, a bright light has gone out of the lives of all of us who knew that good and great man," stated John Snow, Secretary, United States Treasury and former CEO of CSX Corporation. "Even as we miss him so much, we celebrate a life lived well and to the fullest; a life of grand achievements, deep convictions and devotion to what he loved most - Jaqueline and his family, his country, the 'railroad' as he called it, and the warm fellowship he cherished from so many friends. Tom never forgot a friend and I was blessed by his friendship.

"At our last meeting only a few weeks ago, he talked with me about his fond hope that we would walk the fairways together again soon, and it saddens me that it cannot happen now. Goodbye, old friend. You'll always be with us and in our memory."

Family, friends, colleagues and people from all walks of life mourn the passing of a remarkable American success story, Maj. General William Thomas (Tom) Rice. He was a devoted husband, father, decorated soldier, civic leader, benefactor, and railroad visionary who, among other notable achievements, was instrumental in the 1980 creation of CSX Corporation, one of the nation's largest transportation companies. He died in Richmond, Virginia, after a brief illness at the age of 93.

"We have lost a friend and colleague in Tom Rice," said Michael J. Ward, President, Chairman and CEO of CSX Corporation. "Tom's contributions to CSX and this industry will endure as among the most significant of the 20th Century."

Background
Born in 1913 and raised on a small farm near Hague, Virginia, in the Tidewater region of the state, Rice's beginnings were humble, indeed. In 1930, at the start of the Great Depression, he was awarded a partial college scholarship from Mrs. Alfred DuPont. Rice seized upon his opportunity, and working as many as three jobs at once, graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now Virginia Tech) in 1934 with the highest academic average in his civil engineering class. He was one of only two seniors in the class of 1934 to be offered a job upon graduation as the Depression was taking its toll on the nation. He would eventually be honored with several honorary doctorates from various universities, including Stetson University and the Citadel. In continuing gratitude for his opportunity, Rice strove to honor Mrs. DuPont's generosity by helping other deserving young men and women with the gift of educational scholarships throughout the span of his lifetime.

Military Service and Distinction
Rice was called into military service during World War II, and served with distinction in both the European and Pacific Theaters of the war, directing many overseas operations of the Military Railway Service. He would continue his service in the Army Reserves, ultimately retiring as a Major General. For his outstanding leadership, Rice was awarded the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, and was an inductee in the Army Transportation Corps Hall of Fame. Rice was also a member on the Board of Trustees, serving as Vice Chairman for the George C. Marshall Foundation and for The Military Order of the World Wars.

Professional Service
Following the war, Rice returned to railroading and transportation, where his impact is still felt today. Beginning his career in 1934 as a track supervisor for the Pennsylvania Railroad, he rose quickly, serving as the President of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac (RF&P) Railroad in 1955, and within two years as President of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL).

In 1967, he engineered the merger of the ACL with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad to form the Seaboard Coast Line (SCL) Railroad and Industries, where he served as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer until 1977, and as chairman of The Family Lines. Rice was renowned for forging good will between the railroad and local communities, building a bond with employees, and uniting smaller railroad lines with the titan he was leading.

For his visionary instincts which created the mergers and evolutions of multiple rail and transportation corporations globally, he was named the Railroad Man of the Year in 1975 by the National Association of Shippers Agents, and the Defense Transportation Man of the Year in 1972 by the National Defense Institute of America. While the CEO of SCL Corp., he also served as the Chairman of the Board of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad Company, and was an advisor to President Gerald Ford on his Presidential Transportation Advisory Commission.

In 1977, he was instrumental in the important merger of SCL Corp. with the Chessie System, Inc., to form the CSX Corporation, one of the nation's largest transportation companies. He was named Chairman Emeritus in honor of his achievement. He also continued to serve as a director on the boards of numerous national banks, chemical companies, food companies and textile companies, including the Borden Company, CSX Corp, RF&P Corp., Florida Rock Industries, Ambase Corporation, Tredegar Industries, First and Merchant's National Bank (Bank of America), and the Chemical Bank of New York.

Civic and Philanthropic Activities and Honors
An active civic leader and philanthropist, Rice gave his time and energy to a multitude of organizations. He served as a trustee of the Virginia Episcopal Seminary, and also as a trustee of the Westminster-Canterbury Home for the Aging in Richmond, Va. In fact, he was named the Trustee of the Year in 1991 by the American Association of Homes for the Aging. Rice was a member of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Advisory Board of the Citadel, and was a member of Virginia Military Institute's Board of Visitors for eight years. A fervent believer that the nation's future rests with our youth, he gave freely of his time to the Boy Scouts of America and Junior Achievement of America where he served on the National Board. He was awarded the National Junior Achievement Bronze Leadership award in 1979.

In tribute to the opportunities afforded him by his degree from Virginia Tech, he remained extremely active in the life of the university. He served eight years on the Board of Visitors and a term as Rector. He endowed four scholarships for member of the Corps of Cadets who major in engineering. He has served as Director of the Virginia Tech Foundation, President of the Alumni Association, and countless other service positions. In recognition of his contributions, Virginia Tech presented Tom Rice with the Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1973, the Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award in 1980, and the University's highest award, the William Ruffner Medal in 1981.

Rice has received numerous honors throughout his life and career. However, his most notable award was the Lee Integrity Award in 1995 by the Robert E. Lee Memorial Association, given to an individual who has demonstrated a lifetime of service to mankind, flawless integrity, leadership for America, devotion to God, and dedication to duty. Other honors and awards include: Railroad Man of the Year (1975), Christian Fellowship Transportation Award Free Enterprise Man of the Year for Richmond Jaycees (1977), Outstanding Virginian of the Year Award given by Virginians of Maryland (1972), Business Leader of the Year for 1972 in the Field of Transportation - given by Religious Heritage of America, and in 1991 he was inducted into the Cooperstown Conference Hall of Fame (Railroad).

Clubs and Organizations
Rice was a member of a number of influential groups and clubs throughout the United States. Among his many affiliations, he particularly cherished his 43-year membership in Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, and had the distinction of being the oldest playing member of the club. He was also a member of various other institutions, including Burning Tree Golf Club, the Country Club of Virginia, and the Commonwealth Club.

Family and Personal Life
As impressive as his professional and civic life was, Rice's greatest sense of fulfillment came from his family and faith. He participated vigorously in the life of St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Richmond, Va., where he served an unprecedented five terms as Senior Warden. However, he derived his greatest pride and satisfaction in his wife of 67 years, Jaqueline Johnston Rice, and their two children (John Rice and Jaqueline Rice Heard), seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

Rice continued to own and maintain his beloved "Afton," the farm on which he was raised, gathering his family there regularly. He strove, through example, to instill three generations of his family with the life lessons and values that served him so well throughout his life -- values such as family, faith, generosity, integrity, compassion and the importance of education. His passion and deep convictions permeated everything he did. The world is a better place for his presence, and he will be missed by all who knew him.

Services
Services will be held at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church on Three Chopt Road in Richmond, Virginia on Friday, February 10, 2006 at 1:00 p.m. A reception will follow the service in the parish hall. Interment will be on Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at Yeocomico Church, located at 1233 Old Yeocomico Road in Westmoreland County. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made in his name to: Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets W. Thomas Rice Scholarship Fund, or to Westminster Canterbury Fellowship Fund in Richmond, Virginia.