TOM RICE

Tom Rice is the owner of The Magnolia Grill of Ft. Walton Beach, which he and his wife, Peggy, opened in 1996. In 2004, the Magnolia Grill received Florida’s Good Neighbor Award from the National Restaurant Association and was the Greater Ft. Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year. In 2007, Congressman Jeff Miller recognized Tom and Peggy for humanitarian work in the Congressional Record of the 110th Congress. Tom serves on numerous Boards, including being Chairman of the Community Advisory Board of the Salvation Army of Okaloosa and Walton County, Florida. He serves as Secretary of Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida and Chairs the Veterans Tribute Tower Committee. He was named to the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame, Class of 2017. He is a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans 72.

Tom is a veteran and retired as First Sgt. from the U.S. Army. Former Senate President Don Gaetz appointed him to the Veterans Florida Board of Directors in 2014 and Senate President Bill Galvano re-appointed him in 2019.