George Richard Agar Rice was born in Teddington, Middlesex, England. He began his radio career in 1916 at the age of 15 as a wireless operator with the Marconi Company. He served in the merchant marine with the British Admiralty in the first World War and in 1919 came to Canada to see his father who was working for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. Due to his father's illness Dr. Rice stayed in Edmonton despite an attractive job opportunity in Argentina with the British Marconi organization.

In 1922 Dr. Rice was approached by The Edmonton Journal, a local newspaper, to start a radio station. Jumping at the opportunity Rice first went on the radio airwaves on May 1, 1922 at the newly formed CJCA where he operated out of the corner of The Journal newsroom. Rice continued to work in this one solitary make-shift studio for the next 12 years. Dr. Rice was particularly well known for his broadcasts to the Far North. Rice's "Hello the North" broadcasts were an important part of the lives of individuals and families cut off from the outside world for months at a time.

In 1934 Rice, in partnership with Hans Neilson, founded CFRN Edmonton, a 100-watt station, broadcasting thirteen hours a day with a total staff of seven. They took over the facilities of CFTP at a time when the city's population was 80,000. The Sunwapta Broadcasting Company grew to boast a staff of 160 and the radio station broadcasts at a power of 50,000 watts. Sunwapta added to its properties in 1954 when CFRN-Television began broadcasting the first television signal in Northern Alberta. In the early 70's CFRN was the largest broadcasting company to be owned by a single person.

G. R. A. Rice was active in both broadcasting and arts arenas. He served as chairman of the board of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, and as president of the Western Association of Broadcasters. He also personally contributed a quarter of a million dollars for the construction of The Citadel Theatre complex. Among his many awards Rice was named to the Order of Canada, received an honorary doctorate of law degree from the University of Alberta, Citizen of the Year from the Jaycees and served three terms on the University of Alberta Senate.