GRANTS PASS, Ore. – You may have heard of the name Tom Rice from the memorial boat race hosted at Boatnik.
Tom Rice is a fallen local law enforcement officer who was a marine deputy with the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office.
He lost his life in a helicopter accident on May 23, 2002.
Deputy Rice had been employed with the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office for nine years.
“Tom Rice, our namesake — he was a local sheriffs deputy that we lost in the line of duty. It did happen to be during Boatnik,” said James Thompson from Grants Pass Active Club. “He was on a search and rescue trying to help a lady. That was Tom. So, that’s why he meant so much to us.”
A memorial plaque honoring Deputy Rice was installed by the OK Corral.
The Boatnik trophy is dedicated to him in remembrance.
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