Hulett TV Personality John Rice Dies

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — John Rice, famous for the Hulett Environmental Services television commercials he did with his brother Greg, died Saturday. He was 53.

Greg Rice told the Sun-Sentinel that his brother fell and broke his leg coming out of a Palm Beach bank Friday. He was scheduled for surgery Saturday and died as they started administering the anesthesia, Greg Rice said.

The Rice brothers were best known for the dozens of ads they have written, produced and starred in for Hulett since 1990. They dressed as everything from horses to cowboys, the Star Trek crew, Elvis and a pair of termites on Noah's Ark. Just last month, their ad campaign received a Pesty Award from the National Pest Management Association for marketing.

“John has been instrumental in the growth of Hulett Environmental Services, but much more importantly John and Greg are my two best friends,” Hulett Environmental Services Owner Tim Hulett told PCT. “We’re planning the funeral, which will be a celebration of his extraordinary life.

“The Hulett organization is a very family-oriented group. All we have is each other, and John was one of us. We’ll pull through this and move forward.”

Another industry professional saddened by the loss of John Rice is Danny Myers, owner of Myers Pest & Termite Services, Euless, Texas. Two years ago, Myers launched a TV advertising campaign using the Rice brothers in the Dallas area. “(The Rice brothers) are such an inspiration. They are two of the most upbeat, positive human beings you will ever meet,” Myers told PCT. “They know how to have fun and at the same time really understand marketing. I respect their business savvy.”

A memorial service for John Rice will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12. Instead of flowers, the Rice family asks that donations be made to the Bill Barty Memorial Adoption Fund run by the Little People of America Inc. For more information, go to www.lpaonline.org.

Read more about the passing of John Rice from the Sun-Sentinel and Palm Beach Post.

Additional sources: Palm Beach Post & Sun-Sentinel