Rice Brothers
Encyclopedia
"Rice Brothers" redirects here. For the bluegrass albums, see The Rice Brothers
and The Rice Brothers 2
.
John Rice (December 3, 1951—) and Greg Rice (December 03, 1951 (age 60)), sometimes known as the Rice Brothers or Rice Twins, were identical twin dwarfs
, known throughout the United States
for their appearances in various commercials and infomercial
s. Until the death of John Rice on November 5, 2005, the two held the world record
for being the shortest living twins, standing only 2 in 10 in (86.36 cm).
. Their biological mother abandoned them a few hours after giving birth, purportedly due to the diagnosis of dwarfism
. After eight months of being cared for by hospital staff, the infants were taken in as foster children by Frank and Mildred Windsor. Mildred died when the boys were in eighth grade due to ovarian cancer
. Following the loss of their foster mother and the death of their foster father three years later, the two were raised by their foster sister, Betty Windsor. Despite the difficulties of their condition as well as the loss of their foster parents, John and Greg participated in "normal" childhood activities such as the Boy Scouts
, took regular classes throughout their education, and even played cornet
in the junior high and high school band.
During their senior year at Palm Beach High School, John and Greg made money selling cleaning and personal care products door to door. After a number of years practicing their sales skills the two enrolled in community college, and after a year of school were promoted to training other salespeople in the company they worked for.
In the 1990s, the twins became local celebrities in south Florida when they began starring in commercials for a pest control company.
Greg Rice continues to carry on the work in marketing and advertising as well as teaching and lecturing that he began with his late brother .
The Rice Brothers
The Rice Brothers is album recorded by guitarist Tony Rice and his brothers Ron, Larry and Wyatt. .- Track listing :All songs by Tony Rice unless otherwise noted.# "Grapes on the Vine"# "This Old House"# "Original Untitled"# "Teardrops in My Eyes"...
and The Rice Brothers 2
The Rice Brothers 2
The Rice Brothers 2 is follow-up album recorded by guitarist Tony Rice and his brothers Ron, Larry and Wyatt. .- Track listing :All songs by Tony Rice unless otherwise noted.# "Walk on Boy" 3:14# "Jared's Rag" 3:26...
.
John Rice (December 3, 1951—) and Greg Rice (December 03, 1951 (age 60)), sometimes known as the Rice Brothers or Rice Twins, were identical twin dwarfs
Dwarfism
Dwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....
, known throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for their appearances in various commercials and infomercial
Infomercial
Infomercials are direct response television commercials which generally include a phone number or website. There are long-form infomercials, which are typically between 15 and 30 minutes in length, and short-form infomercials, which are typically 30 seconds to 120 seconds in length. Infomercials...
s. Until the death of John Rice on November 5, 2005, the two held the world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
for being the shortest living twins, standing only 2 in 10 in (86.36 cm).
Early lives
John and Greg Rice were born on December 3, 1951 at St. Mary's Hospital in West Palm Beach, FloridaWest Palm Beach, Florida
West Palm Beach, is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and is the most populous city in and county seat of Palm Beach County, the third most populous county in Florida with a 2010 population of 1,320,134. The city is also the oldest incorporated municipality in South Florida...
. Their biological mother abandoned them a few hours after giving birth, purportedly due to the diagnosis of dwarfism
Dwarfism
Dwarfism is short stature resulting from a medical condition. It is sometimes defined as an adult height of less than 4 feet 10 inches , although this definition is problematic because short stature in itself is not a disorder....
. After eight months of being cared for by hospital staff, the infants were taken in as foster children by Frank and Mildred Windsor. Mildred died when the boys were in eighth grade due to ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary. Symptoms are frequently very subtle early on and may include: bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating and frequent urination, and are easily confused with other illnesses....
. Following the loss of their foster mother and the death of their foster father three years later, the two were raised by their foster sister, Betty Windsor. Despite the difficulties of their condition as well as the loss of their foster parents, John and Greg participated in "normal" childhood activities such as the Boy Scouts
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, took regular classes throughout their education, and even played cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
in the junior high and high school band.
During their senior year at Palm Beach High School, John and Greg made money selling cleaning and personal care products door to door. After a number of years practicing their sales skills the two enrolled in community college, and after a year of school were promoted to training other salespeople in the company they worked for.
Professional careers
In the mid-seventies the Rice Brothers went into the real estate business, starting out as real estate agents and then successful investors. It was there they became two of the most recognizable experts in their field here in the US.In the 1990s, the twins became local celebrities in south Florida when they began starring in commercials for a pest control company.
Death of John
John Rice died from complications of injuries when he broke his leg coming out of a Palm Beach bank. He was scheduled for surgery and died as they started the anesthesia.Greg Rice continues to carry on the work in marketing and advertising as well as teaching and lecturing that he began with his late brother .