Tom Rice has been a resident of Horry County since he was 4 years old. Tom
attended the University of South Carolina where he earned a masters degree in
accounting and a law degree. After college, Tom worked at the worldwide accounting
and consulting firm, Deloitte & Touche in Charlotte where he earned his CPA certificate.
In 1985 he returned to Myrtle Beach to practice Tax Law with the Van Osdell Law Firm.
In 1997, Tom established his own practice, the Rice & MacDonald Law Firm.
Tom has received numerous certificates and awards for his professional
achievements through the years. In 1994 he was awarded and continues to hold an AV
(Preeminent) legal rating by Martindale Hubble. From 1994 until 2009, he was certified
by the Supreme Court of South Carolina as a specialist in Tax Law, Estate Planning,
and Probate Law. Since 2006 he has been included in Best Lawyers in America.
Over the years, Tom has served our community through many charitable and
civic organizations including the Myrtle Beach Haven Homeless Shelter (President), Boy
Scouts, Grand Strand Sertoma Club (Secretary, President), Ocean View Foundation
(President), Trinity Episcopal Church (Vestry), YMCA, and York Place. He served on
several community advisory boards including Horry County Probate Court Advisory
Committee, Myrtle Beach Board of Zoning Variances (Chairman), Blue Ribbon
Committee to Study Emergency Services for the City of Myrtle Beach, and the SC
Department of Natural Resources Conservation Education & Communication Advisory
Board. He participated in Leadership Grand Strand VIII.
In 2010, Tom was elected Chairman of Horry County Council. He has worked
to create more effective government by building consensus within county council,
and by strengthening relationships with the various municipalities and legislators to
develop a unified strategy. JOBS, JOBS, AND MORE JOBS are his top priority. He
has worked with county council and community leaders to rebuild the Myrtle Beach
Regional Economic Development Corporation, and it is already paying off as job
announcements are just beginning. He has worked to get more state and federal
support for infrastructure in Horry County. He has led the charge for efficiency in
government and under his leadership, Horry County Council plans to institute a lean six
sigma plan for quality, customer service and efficiency in early 2012.
Tom will use his experience as an accountant and businessman to improve the
efficiency of our government and will work to spend fewer taxpayer dollars.
Currently, Tom is of counsel at Rice, MacDonald, & Hicks Law Firm. He resides
in Myrtle Beach where he remains involved in various community activities. In his free
time, he enjoys fishing, hunting, golfing and spending time with his family and friends.
He has been married to his wife, Wrenzie, for 29 years and has three grown sons– H.T.,
Jacob, and Lucas.
Tom is also on Facebook (Tom Rice for Congress page), Twitter and Linked In.
