Jim Rice, Mayor, carpenter '86.
Original Photo
The original photo used as reference for the mural was photographed by an unknown photographer in the 1980s.
James “Jim” Rice was born March 26, 1923 in Hatton, North Dakota. He was the son of Stella Berg and Theodore Rice.
He spent his childhood in North Dakota and graduated from Hatton High School in 1941. During World War II he served with the U.S. Army in Alaska.
After he lived in Anacortes for a couple years, he moved to Seattle but made Anacortes his permanent home in 1954. He worked as a building contractor and served on the Anacortes City Council for 18 years. James was elected mayor of Anacortes in 1981 and was still serving when he passed in 1991.
He married Margie Smith in Seward, Alaska in 1945 and they had two sons and two daughters: David, Robert, Carol and Marie. Some of his hobbies included reading and woodworks and he was known for donating both his money and time to needy families.
Mr. Rice was a member of the Anacortes Elks Lodge, The Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, and the Anacortes Lutheran Church.
James passed away on October 22, 1991.
