A desire to honor her husband and to assist students who want to pursue an education in a health-related field led Eunice Tice to create the George I. and Eunice A. Tice Scholarship.
Both George and Eunice attended Mason City Junior College (NIACC’s predecessor). After one year at MCJC, Eunice transferred to Iowa State University, where she earned a BS in nutrition. George graduated from MCJC in 1936 and entered medical school at the University of Iowa. The couple married in 1941 just before George joined the U.S. Navy. After World War II, the couple lived in Rochester, Minnesota, where Dr. Tice finished his surgical residency.
In 1947, the Tices returned to North Iowa where George joined the medical practice of his father, Dr. Claude Tice. George practiced medicine in Mason City for over 40 years. When he died in 1989, Eunice used the memorial gifts given in his honor to establish a scholarship fund.
The couple raised four children. Their son, Dale, is employed at Home Interiors in Dallas, Texas. Ann, Alan, and Paul have followed in their father’s and grandfather’s footsteps and are physicians. “Medicine runs in the family,” Alan said.
George and Eunice resided in Mason City but thoroughly enjoyed summers at their cottage on Clear Lake. They moved to Clear Lake permanently in 1977. The Tices enjoyed vacationing in an apartment in Switzerland from 1974 until George’s death.
Eunice was active in Mason City organizations, including First United Methodist Church, Mason City Women’s Club, PEO, Mason City Medical Auxiliary, and the MacNider Art Museum. Inspired by the deafness of her son, Dale, she was also very involved in organizations that helped the handicapped.
Alan said his mother chose to set up a scholarship fund at NIACC because his parents “had a strong belief in the Mason City community. They were strong proponents of local education.”