Prominent Attorney and University of South Carolina Benefactor Joseph Rice Passes Away, Dies at 72

Prominent attorney and major University of South Carolina benefactor Joseph F. Rice passed away suddenly at his office on Thursday afternoon, September 3, 2026, at the age of 72. Rice was best known as a co-founder of the Mount Pleasant-based Motley Rice law firm and a master negotiator of massive civil litigation settlements over a span of nearly four decades.

His sudden death occurred just over thirteen years after his fellow founding partner, Ron Motley, passed away in 2013. Rice's profound impact spanned across South Carolina's legal landscape, his alma mater's flagship law school bearing his name, and Williams-Brice Stadium, home of the Gamecock football program.

"We lost the Lion King," said former U.S. attorney Pete Strom, reflecting on the profound loss felt throughout the state's legal and academic communities following Rice's sudden death.

In November 2023, the University of South Carolina officially renamed its law school the Joseph F. Rice School of Law after Rice and his family made a transformative 30 million dollar gift. University leadership praised the contribution for establishing a stellar trajectory for the institution's national reputation and future growth.

Local authorities and firm representatives confirmed that Rice passed away at his office on Thursday afternoon, leaving behind a legacy of historic legal settlements and philanthropic investments in higher education and athletics across South Carolina.