The building at 200 W. Second Street has not had a name since it opened.
Rice was appointed to the federal bench in June 1980 by President Jimmy Carter. He served as chief judge of the court from Oct. 13, 1996, to Oct. 12, 2003.
“For more than four decades, Judge Rice has been a tireless advocate for justice, the people of Dayton, and the state of Ohio,” said Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio. “This is a fitting tribute to his life’s work, and I join Senator Brown and Rep. Turner in thanking him for his service.”
The bill is now awaiting action in the House. A panel convened by Rep. Mike Turner, R-Dayton, chose to name the building after Rice.
“The courthouse has served the federal government and the Miami Valley for over 40 years and providing it with a formal designation is long past due,” Turner said last year.
The panel was chaired by Dayton attorney Merle F. Wilberding and included Amanda Wright Lane, a great-grand-niece of the Wright Brothers, Dayton History Chief Executive Brady Kress and eight other members.
RELATED: Rice honored building to be named for him
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, also praised Rice Thursday.
“Judge Rice has spent his career in service to Montgomery County, and it is fitting that the Dayton courthouse, where he has devoted nearly four decades of his life, bears his name,” said Brown. “I join Sen. Portman and Rep. Turner in gratitude for Judge Rice’s service to the Dayton community as we work together to honor his legacy.”
Staff Writer Thomas Gnau contributed to this report.
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