| Sources |
- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 230.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 18 Mar 2007.
(c)2007 NPT PHOTO BY DUAY O'NEIL Cocke County Sheriff Claude Strange congratulates Lt. Ron Rice on his promotion to Cocke County Chief Deputy on Friday.
By: Duay O'Neil
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
03-18-2007
NEWPORT-Cocke County has a new chief deputy as of Friday. Lt. Ron Rice, Cocke County native and retired Tennessee Highway Patrol officer, assumed his duties Friday afternoon after being elevated to the position by Cocke County Sheriff Claude Strange.
In naming Rice, Strange said, "Because of Ron's experience and knowledge and the professional way in which he handles himself in the department, I am happy to name him to this position."
Strange continued, "As we restructure the Cocke County Sheriff's Department in our work to be more effective and to better Cocke County, I think Ron is the best person for the position.
"I do appreciate his dedication to professionalism. I look forward to working with him for many more years as we improve Cocke County for all of our citizens," Strange concluded.
Rice, a Cocke County native, entered law enforcement in 1984 as a Tennessee Highway Patrolman working in Cookeville.
In 1986, Rice, still with the Highway Patrol, returned to Cocke County and spent the remainder of his career in East Tennessee.
In the late 1990s, he was named to the Patrol's Criminal Investigation Division, specializing in auto theft investigations, and worked in Sullivan, Washington, and Johnson Counties.
While with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Rice acquired Accident Reconstructionist certification.
Rice retired from THP in October 2001. After a short retirement, Rice became Cocke County jailer in January, 2004. "I found out I just wasn't ready for permanent retirement. I wasn't ready to sit at home and so I went back to work," Rice laughs.
After spending six months as jailer, Rice went on the road as a deputy in June, 2004.
In addition to his career with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Rice also spent 28 years with the Army National Guard, retiring from that group as mess sergeant. He is married to the former Nancy Askew. The Rices have four children: Desmond, Shea, Delitha (Rice) Ensley, and Sheldon, and eleven grandchildren. He is the son of the late Ted Rice Sr., well-known ice and coal dealer, and his wife, the former Maggie Swaggerty, who retired from Mims Clinic.
The Rices are Presbyterian. In accepting the position, Rice said, "It is an honor that the sheriff and the people of Cocke County have put their faith in me to do my utmost to uphold the laws. I thank Sheriff Strange and the other deputies for their support." "Sheriff Strange and I appreciate our deputies and employees. I will strive to make the department better for all employees and to help Sheriff Strange in any way I can," Rice said.
Rice named chief deputy
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, d. 21 May 1989, Cocke County, Tennessee