1976 – Indianapolis, Indiana
Beverly Ann Rice was born in Evansville, Indiana, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Boegaholtz. Her husband is architect Larry Thomas Rice. She was graduated with honors from Indiana University with a B.S. degree in Textile Merchandising from the School of Business. In 1956 she joined L.S. Ayres & Company, a leading Indianapolis retailer. She progressed at Ayres from Assistant to the Fashion Director to Gown Room Buyer, Divisional Merchandise Manager, Fashion Director, General Merchandise Manager, and became Ayres’ first woman vice president in 1973. In 1983, Mrs. Rice elected to take early retirement as vice president, director of Fashion Merchandising. She joined Gidding-Jenny, a women’s specialty retailer in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1984, she opened a 22,000 square foot Gidding-Jenny store in Indianapolis. In 1985, she was elected to the Indiana University School of Business Alumni board of directors for a three-year term. In 1989, she became vice-president, general manager of N. Theobald, Inc., a privately owned store specializing in fine home furnishings. Bevery Rice joined Jacobson’s as senior vice president, Fashion and Merchandising Strategy, in 1997. She is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, business honorary, Indiana University Alumni Association, The North Group of Indianapolis Symphony and The Fashion Group of New York. In 1975, she was named to Who’s Who of American Women. (Deceased, 2008)
