By Suzanne Rice, wife of COL Bill Rice
As an Eagle Scout himself, Bill found a good fit for some of his time – bringing his patriotism and leadership skills to Boy Scout Troop 279 in Peachtree City, GA. He was a Troop Committee member, representative
on the Flint River Council Eagle Scout Board and conceived and led a Scouting Co
unty Fair each year among other things. The most obvious connection to his USMA and military life was his effort to teach the Scouts how to do flag ceremonies properly. Before each Eagle Scout ceremony (There were many Eagle Scout award earned by this particular troop.), he met with the younger Scouts participating in the flag ceremony and taught them care and respect for our nation’s flag.
One year, the Troop committee decided to accept 30 new Webelos Scouts (into a troop of only 30 other Scouts), Seeing some problems with integrating so many new, young and inexperienced Scouts, Bill offered to create a new program that he called the Tenderfoot Trail. This was to fill half of every weekly meeting when older Scouts would lead and teach the basics of Boy Scouting to small groups of new Scouts. (Double benefit – the older Scouts had to know the material before they could teach it!) During the Tenderfoot Trai
l that would last 14 weeks, each young Scout learned the Oath, Laws, Motto, knots, safety, first aid, fitness, emergency preparedness, etc. As Bill 
suspected, the new Scouts (age 10-11 years old) were hard to keep going in the same direction. One boy in particular was very difficult and it soon became clear that an adult had to be by his side no matter what the assignment was for that week. Each week, no one thought this boy would come back to the troop for the next week’s meeting, but, happily, he continued to come and, eventually, mastered all the new Boy Scout skills.
It was only at Bill’s funeral that the depth of his influence on the Scouts became clear. The unruly young Scout had grown and it was he and his mother that suggested to the parish office (This was a surprise to Bill’s family.) that there needed to be a Boy Scout Color Guard to accompany Bill’s casket 
into the Church. It was that same unruly Scout who was the first to volunteer to participate. They say that there was a great competition among troop members for who would actually get to carry the colors and participate in the ceremony. It was a touching experience to see the older and now no longer unruly Scout leading the Color Guard, bearing the colors of our nation as we entered the Church. It was heartwarming to each of us to see how Bill had influenced these young Scouts and how they wanted to salute his life. Adding to that, the once young, unruly Scout kept coming back to Scout meetings and eventually became an Eagle Scout himself. What a joy for all!
Thanks, Suzanne, for a heartwarming story of redemption. A tribute to Bill’s leadership, patience, and perseverance.
Thanks, Suzanne. It is so great to remember Bill by seeing him through your eyes as you lovingly recount his selfless and significant contributions to succeeding generations through scouting.
Dear Suzanne:
Thanks for the wonderful remembrance. As they say, “Be Prepared!” For what goes around, comes around!” And what a joy it can be, especially when it’s the good stuff! 🙂
Best regards & BOTL,
Bill
Dear Suzanne: Thank you for invoking many happy scouting memories for me and for reminding us that it is the little, caring things we do that often have the biggest and most lasting impact on others.
Bill: We are still talking about you, my friend!
Suzanne, thank you for sharing such a touching story. We need to keep these memories alive. God bless!
Thank you Suzanne, for reminding me of the positive impact that scouting had on me and clearly on Bill.
Suzanne, thanks for touching story about the Scouts. It brings back fond memories of my days in Scouting, especially the Father & Son overnight camping trips, where I shared quality time with my dad.
Suzanne, this very touching story about Bill is very inspirational. 2 of my grandchildren are in Scouting and I am very proud of them! Thanks for sharing.
What a great story. The Tenderfoot Trail was a genius way of handling all those young Webelos. How touching about the Boy Scout Color Guard at Bill’s funeral!
I know you and your family still miss him.
Suzanne, what a beautiful story of Bill’s devotion to the flag, the scouts he inspired and love of this country. Loved the pictures too.
Mary Alice Camoosa
Great story, Suzanne, beautifully recounted. Thank you,
Jim Richards
Suzanne, what a beautiful story and what a great way to remember Flag Day. Thanks for sharing. If truth be told I imagine that my involvement in Scouts had more to do with me actually getting into West Point than almost anything else.
Beautiful, heartwarming story, Suzanne.
Another great story!
Suzanne, that was beautiful. Bill was an exceptional human being to take that “unruly” young man under his wing and give him the attention he needed. The rewards cannot be measured.
Suzanne, a very touching tribute to Bill and the Boy Scouts for helping teach young boys the skills they needed to be great men. We learned skills and leadership and how to pass these skills on to the younger scouts. It was great preparation for West Point and the army! Bill was a wonderfull example for his young men!