According to the available information, michael W. “Mike” Rice, the longtime business leader who helped transform Utz from a regional snack producer into a nationally recognised brand, has died at the age of 84. His death was announced by Utz Brands on October 14, 2026, following his passing on October 10 in Hershey, Pennsylvania, surrounded by family. Rice spent more than five decades working with the family business, carrying forward the legacy established by his grandparents and guiding the company through decades of expansion. Beyond…
Rice spent more than five decades working with the family business, carrying forward the legacy established by his grandparents and guiding the company through decades of expansion. Beyond his executive responsibilities, he was known for his commitment to employees, family life and charitable work in the Hanover, Pennsylvania, community.
His passing marks the loss of a prominent figure in the history of Utz, whose leadership helped shape the company long before it became a publicly traded business.
Who Was Michael W. Rice?
Michael W. Rice was born on October 4, 1942, in Hanover, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Francis Xavier Rice and Arlene Utz Rice, whose family was closely connected to the founding of Utz.
His maternal grandparents, William and Salie Utz, established the snack company in 1921, initially producing potato chips in their home kitchen. Rice grew up around the family operation and began helping with its work while still a child.
During summer breaks, he unloaded heavy burlap sacks of potatoes and took on other jobs after school and on weekends. Those early experiences introduced him to the practical demands of the business and helped establish a connection that would shape his professional life.
Rather than pursuing a career entirely separate from the family enterprise, Rice eventually returned to Hanover and became one of its most influential leaders.
From Law School Graduate to Utz Chief Executive
Rice pursued higher education before formally joining Utz. He graduated from Mount St. Mary’s University in 1965 and earned his law degree from George Washington University Law School in 1968.
After briefly working at Control Data Corporation in Virginia, he returned to Pennsylvania to join the family company.
His rise through the organisation was gradual. He became executive vice president in 1970 before being appointed president and chief executive officer in 1978. In 1992, he took on the combined position of chairman and CEO.
These roles placed him at the centre of the company’s long-term strategy, operations and growth. His leadership would continue to influence Utz for decades.
How Rice Helped Expand the Utz Brand
During Rice’s years in senior leadership, Utz expanded beyond its traditional markets in Central Pennsylvania and Maryland. The business increased its manufacturing capabilities, developed additional snack categories and broadened the reach of its products.
The company’s growth reflected a combination of operational development and a wider distribution network that made its snacks available to more consumers across the United States.
Rice was closely associated with maintaining the family heritage of the business while preparing it for a changing commercial environment. He understood the importance of preserving established company values while investing in the infrastructure needed to support expansion.
One principle attributed to him was the importance of paying attention to small details. That emphasis on careful execution became part of the culture he helped establish at Utz.
Key Facts About Michael W. Rice
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Michael W. Rice |
| Common name | Mike Rice |
| Date of birth | October 4, 1942 |
| Date of death | October 10, 2026 |
| Age | 84 |
| Place of birth | Hanover, Pennsylvania |
| Place of death | Hershey, Pennsylvania |
| Education | Mount St. Mary’s University; George Washington University Law School |
| Profession | Business executive and former attorney |
| Company | Utz Quality Foods / Utz Brands |
| Leadership positions | President, CEO, chairman and chairman emeritus |
| Spouse | Jane Epley Rice |
| Children | Stacie Rice Lissette and Matthew Rice |
| Cause of death | Not publicly disclosed in the announcement reviewed |
| Memorial arrangements | Scheduled for October 30 and 31, 2026, according to the funeral home |
Passing Leadership to the Next Generation
In 2012, Rice moved into the role of executive chairman, handing day-to-day senior leadership to Dylan Lissette, his son-in-law.
The transition marked a new phase for Utz while keeping the business connected to the family that had guided it for generations. Lissette continued to lead the company as it developed its operations and expanded its market presence.
Utz became a publicly traded company in 2020. Rice subsequently served as a director and chairman emeritus, remaining connected to the organisation even after stepping away from its daily management.
He retired from the company’s board in August 2024 but continued to provide advisory support. His long involvement gave him a perspective spanning the company’s early family-business years, its expansion and its transition into a public company.
A Lasting Link Between the Rice Family and Utz
The company’s relationship with the Rice family remained visible in its operations and facilities. In December 2024, Utz opened a 650,000-square-foot national logistics hub in Hanover and named it the Rice Distribution Center.
The name honoured Mike and Jane Rice and their decades of contributions to the business.
The facility represented a practical investment in distribution while also recognising the family’s role in the company’s history.
Utz later announced plans to return to private ownership through a proposed partnership involving Intersnack Group and the Rice and Lissette families. In its October 14 announcement about Rice’s death, the company said his passing would not affect the planned transaction.
Philanthropy and Commitment to Hanover
Rice’s influence extended beyond the snack industry. He and his wife, Jane, established the Rice Family Foundation in 2017 to support improvements in education, health and family well-being in communities around Hanover.
The foundation reflected the couple’s belief that the success of a family business carries a responsibility to contribute to the community that helped sustain it.
Rice also supported local institutions and charitable initiatives. His community involvement included service connected with the Hanover Area YMCA and Hanover Hospital, alongside broader efforts to support education and local families.
The foundation continues to represent an important part of the Rice family’s approach to philanthropy, directing resources toward organisations working to improve life in their community.
Family Life and the People He Leaves Behind
Rice shared 60 years of marriage with his wife, Jane Epley Rice. Their family life was closely connected to Hanover, where both their personal and philanthropic commitments took shape.
According to his published funeral-home obituary, he is survived by Jane; daughter Stacie Rice Lissette and her husband, Dylan; son Matthew Rice and his wife, Toni; his sisters Andrea Rice and Sue Rice Falkenberg; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as members of his extended family.
The family obituary describes a life centred on family, friendships and community. It also records Rice’s pride in carrying forward the business his grandparents created and in seeing it continue to grow.
While his career brought national recognition, his lasting relationships and family commitments formed another important part of his life.
Tributes From Utz Leadership
Following Rice’s death, Utz leadership acknowledged the scale of his contribution to the business.
The company described him as an important figure in its history and highlighted his treatment of employees as members of an extended family.
Dylan Lissette also reflected on working alongside Rice for more than three decades, emphasising his strategic outlook, ability to bring talented people into the organisation and interest in employees’ achievements.
These tributes point to a leadership style that combined long-term planning with close attention to the people responsible for the company’s daily work.
Rice’s influence can be seen not only in the growth of the brand but also in the management team, employees and family members who continued the business after he stepped back from executive responsibilities.
Michael Rice Cause of Death: What Has Been Disclosed?
Utz Brands announced that Rice died on October 10, 2026, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, surrounded by his family. His funeral-home obituary identifies Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center as the place where he died.
However, neither the company announcement nor the funeral-home obituary reviewed for this article specifies a medical cause of death.
No particular illness, accident or other medical circumstance should therefore be attributed to his passing without further confirmation from an authorised source.
The available announcements focus instead on his professional achievements, family life and contributions to Utz and the Hanover community.
Memorial Services and Funeral Arrangements
According to Kenworthy Funeral Home, visitation for Rice is scheduled for Friday, October 30, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a second visitation from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Both are scheduled at Kenworthy Funeral Home in Hanover, Pennsylvania.
A service celebrating his life is scheduled for Saturday, October 31, at 1 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 5055 Grandview Road, Hanover.
The family has requested that people wishing to make memorial contributions consider the Hanover Area YMCA or a charity of their choice.
Those planning to attend should confirm arrangements with the funeral home before travelling, as service details can change.
Remembering Michael W. Rice
Mike Rice’s story was closely tied to the growth of a family business that began in a home kitchen and eventually reached consumers throughout the country. From his first jobs unloading potato sacks to his decades as president, CEO and chairman, he remained connected to the company founded by his grandparents.
His professional legacy includes the expansion of Utz, the development of its manufacturing and distribution operations, and the transition of leadership to a new generation. His charitable work also helped support education, health and family well-being in Hanover.
Rice leaves behind his wife, children, grandchildren, extended family and a business community shaped by his long service.
His life illustrates how a family enterprise can grow across generations while maintaining ties to its origins and local community.
Disclaimer: This obituary is based on the official announcement from Utz Brands, the published funeral-home obituary and business reporting. The specific medical cause of Michael W. Rice’s death was not disclosed in the sources reviewed. Memorial arrangements are based on the funeral home’s published schedule and should be confirmed before attendance.
