University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame
Harold "Misty" Rice 1942 - Football
His post-UVM football career cut short by World War II, Harold 'Misty' Rice was an outstanding two-way player for the Cats for three years. A 2000 UVM Hall of Fame inductee, Rice was named all-state two straight seasons and was captain of the Catamounts his senior year (1941).
He was best known on the football field as a hard-hitting, mobile linebacker who had a tremendous ability to analyze and break down offensive plays. On offense, Rice as originally a center but was moved to the backfield as a blocking fullback for his senior season.
Rice was a tremendously popular and respected student-athlete among his classmates. In addition to earning three football letters, Rice played freshman baseball and club rugby. He was the president of the Gold Key Society, a sophomore men's honorary society.
With the outbreak of World War II, Rice turned down three offers to try out for NFL teams to service his country as captain in the U.S. Marines. He saw action in the Pacific in the Parachute branch of the Corps and was a company commander on the initial landing at Iwo Jima. For his service in the war, he was awarded a Purple Heart and a Presidential Unit Citation.
After the war, he returned to his native Connecticut and worked for Southern New England Telecommunications Corp. for 37 years until his retirement in 1982.
"Misty was one of the great captains and 60-minute men who excelled when these 'Ironmen' played both defense and offense," said J. Edward Donnelly, former Director of Athletics at UVM as well as a former football coach.
Rice and his wife, Harriet (UVM Class of '42) have one daughter, Carol.
