Published September 5, 2026 at 10:03 am|By Bristol Ainsley, Staff Reporter
Joe Rice, the South Carolina attorney whose 100-foot yacht became a familiar sight at Harbour Town during RBC Heritage week, has died at 72.
Rice’s yacht, the Rice Quarters, drew attention each spring when it was docked at Harbour Town Yacht Basin for the PGA Tour event. The vessel slept 10 in five staterooms and often flew a University of South Carolina flag.
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Rice was a Mount Pleasant attorney and co-founder of Motley Rice whose legal career included major civil cases involving asbestos, tobacco and opioids.
He was also a co-founder of the Joseph F. Rice School of Law after he and his family made a $30 million gift to the University of South Carolina.
The yacht remained a distinctive part of Harbour Town’s surroundings during Heritage week and a well-known Lowcountry connection to Rice’s life and career.
What's Happening
When and where is this happening?
South Carolina attorney Joe Rice, whose yacht became a familiar sight at Harbour Town during RBC Heritage week, has died at 72.
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Bristol Ainsley
HERE Hilton Head · NEWS
Bristol is a staff reporter for HERE Hilton Head covering local news, community stories, and developments across Beaufort County. Bristol is committed to accurate, community-first journalism.
