He was a younger brother of Laban Lacy Rice, a noted educator, author, and president of Cumberland University.

He was educated at Cumberland University where he was a member of the Theta chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity and at Harvard (A.B., 1895; A.M., 1896).

[4] His birthplace in Dixon is designated by Kentucky State Historical Marker 1508, which reads: Birthplace of Rice brothers, Cale Young, 1872–1943, noted poet and author; Laban Lacy, 1870–1973, well-known educator and author.

[5]Rice adapted his play Yolanda of Cyprus into an opera libretto for Clarence Loomis; the resulting work was premiered on September 25, 1929, in London, Ontario, under the baton of Isaac Van Grove, and featured Charles Kullman.

[7] Rice committed suicide by gunshot during the night of January 24, 1943, at his home in Louisville a year after his wife's death due to his sorrow at losing her.