Linda Rice was nominated by her husband, James H. Rice III. James shared the following sentiment about Linda and her support:
"500 words won't work! Met her on my way to Vietnam, 3 weeks later married, 11 days later departed. During those 42 days attended RC Expo in OKC, she met Carl Goldberg and then I built a homemade 3 channel trainer for her and we got some flights in. Got home a year later and she had built a Goldberg Falcon 56 and Dad built a Blue Max radio for her. We still have the AC55 years later.
While still a young soldier with not enough money I tried fixing my own radio problems and broke several AC. I came in and was pricing everything to sell to get out of the hobby. She asked what I was doing and then left home. Back in an hour she threw an Aeromaster Bipe kit on the bed and said, 'Build this, I like biplanes and don't think I would like you without airplanes.'
After I retired we opened a Hobby Shop and she helped run it for 15 years. My father had died so we hosted 15 Memorial Fly Ins in his memory and she planned all of the prizes, plaques, tents, and meetings for my AVPs because I was now D8 VP. One event had over 150 pilots all had 75 or more. AMA Staff and EC members attended most. In 2025 we conducted a 25th Anniversary Memorial Fly In and she did all of the planning while son and I conducted the event!
While I was District VP she attended EC meetings, 5 or 6 AMA Expos in CA where she helped run the Museum Store. Attended 3 or more Joe Nall events and was awarded AMA Fellowship in 2019.
She has worked the kitchen for TCF Swap Meet with my son for many years and still attends events with me although she no longer flies.
56 years supporting me and my habit! A real trooper and super CoPilot!"
