Chenango Stories: Tools of the trade

Knowing what you want to do when you grow up is not always an easy thing to figure out. As a child grows into an adult, feelings and interests change often.

Robert Rice, on the other hand, says he has known what he has wanted to do since the 7th grade. As he entered the technology class, he soon realized how much he enjoyed working construction. In high school, he studied at BOCES and continued to hone his craft.

“For as long as I remember I have known what I wanted to do. Construction has been a part of everything I have done so far,” Rice said.



Rice has lived in the Chenango County area since age five and was adopted by Mark and Sandy Rice who had resided in Norwich. He says he would watch his father do work around the house and by sharing his interest in remodeling, his father got him started in what would turn out to be his life’s work.

Rice graduated high school and joined the Army. Stationed at Fort Polk in Louisiana, he was a construction engineer and remained in active duty for four years. He says, thankfully, he was always stationed stateside and by doing so he learned about the trade of construction and remodeling.

After completing his military duty, Rice would stay in the Army Reserve for the following 15 years. He attended college after coming home from active duty and as always, included his love for the construction trade into his studies.

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