Laban Lacy Rice
Encyclopedia
Laban Lacy Rice was an educator, author, and President of Cumberland University
.
He was born in Dixon, Kentucky
to Laban Marchbanks Rice, a Confederate
veteran and prominent tobacco merchant, and his wife Martha Lacy. He was an older brother of the poet Cale Young Rice
. Lacy Rice grew up with his family in Evansville, Indiana
and Louisville, Kentucky
.
He received his A.B.
, M.A.
, and PhD
degrees from Cumberland University
. While a student at Cumberland, he was one of five men to found the Theta Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity on October 7, 1887. He served as Professor of English at Cumberland University, as Headmaster at Castle Heights Military Academy
, and as associate editor of the Cumberland Presbyterian prior to being elected as President of Cumberland University
. He also founded a private girls' camp called Camp Nakanawa and was an amateur astronomer. The Rice Observatory on the Cumberland University campus is named after him.
Rice married Blanche Alexander Buchanan in Lebanon, Tennessee
and was the father of two daughters, Katherine and Anne. After his retirement, he made his home in Warwick
, Virginia
. He died in St. Petersburg, Florida
, in 1973 at the age of 102 and was buried at the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Lebanon.
His birthplace in Webster County, Kentucky
is designated by Historic Marker #1508, which reads:
"Birthplace of Rice brothers, Cale Young, 1872-1943, noted poet and author; Laban Lacy, 1870-1973, well-known educator and author. Lacy published The Best Poetic Works of Cale Young Rice after Cale's death. Included in famous collection is poem, "The Mystic." Cale married Alice Hegan
, also a distinguished Kentucky writer. Home overlooks Memorial Garden."
Cumberland University
Cumberland University is a private university in Lebanon, Tennessee, United States. It was founded in 1842, though the current campus buildings were constructed between 1892 and 1896.-History:...
.
He was born in Dixon, Kentucky
Dixon, Kentucky
Dixon is a city in Webster County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 632 at the 2000 census. Dixon, the county seat of Webster county, is located at the junction of US 41A and KY 132. It was established in 1860 when the county was formed...
to Laban Marchbanks Rice, a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
veteran and prominent tobacco merchant, and his wife Martha Lacy. He was an older brother of the poet Cale Young Rice
Cale Young Rice
Cale Young Rice was an American poet and dramatist.He was born in Dixon, Kentucky to Laban Marchbanks Rice, a Confederate veteran and tobacco merchant, and his wife Martha Lacy. He was a younger brother of Laban Lacy Rice, a noted educator. Cale Rice grew up in Evansville, Indiana and Louisville,...
. Lacy Rice grew up with his family in Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
and Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
.
He received his A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, and PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degrees from Cumberland University
Cumberland University
Cumberland University is a private university in Lebanon, Tennessee, United States. It was founded in 1842, though the current campus buildings were constructed between 1892 and 1896.-History:...
. While a student at Cumberland, he was one of five men to found the Theta Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity on October 7, 1887. He served as Professor of English at Cumberland University, as Headmaster at Castle Heights Military Academy
Castle Heights Military Academy
Castle Heights Military Academy was a private military academy in Lebanon, Tennessee, USA.The Academy was founded as Castle Heights School in 1902. In 1918, it became a military preparatory school. The school ceased operations in 1986 in the face of declining enrollment...
, and as associate editor of the Cumberland Presbyterian prior to being elected as President of Cumberland University
Cumberland University
Cumberland University is a private university in Lebanon, Tennessee, United States. It was founded in 1842, though the current campus buildings were constructed between 1892 and 1896.-History:...
. He also founded a private girls' camp called Camp Nakanawa and was an amateur astronomer. The Rice Observatory on the Cumberland University campus is named after him.
Rice married Blanche Alexander Buchanan in Lebanon, Tennessee
Lebanon, Tennessee
Lebanon is a city in Wilson County, Tennessee, in the United States. The population was 20,235 at the 2000 census. It serves as the county seat of Wilson County. Lebanon is located in middle Tennessee, approximately 25 miles east of downtown Nashville. Local residents have also called it...
and was the father of two daughters, Katherine and Anne. After his retirement, he made his home in Warwick
Warwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He died in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, in 1973 at the age of 102 and was buried at the Cedar Grove Cemetery in Lebanon.
His birthplace in Webster County, Kentucky
Webster County, Kentucky
Webster County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Webster County was formed in 1860 from parts of the counties of Henderson, Hopkins, and Union. As of 2000, the population is 14,120. Its county seat is Dixon. The county was named for American statesman Daniel Webster...
is designated by Historic Marker #1508, which reads:
"Birthplace of Rice brothers, Cale Young, 1872-1943, noted poet and author; Laban Lacy, 1870-1973, well-known educator and author. Lacy published The Best Poetic Works of Cale Young Rice after Cale's death. Included in famous collection is poem, "The Mystic." Cale married Alice Hegan
Alice Hegan Rice
Alice Hegan Rice, also known as Alice Caldwell Hegan, was an American novelist.Born in Shelbyville, Kentucky, she wrote over two dozen books, the most famous of which is Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch. The book was a best seller in 1902 and is set in Louisville, Kentucky where she then lived...
, also a distinguished Kentucky writer. Home overlooks Memorial Garden."