In Memoriam
Dr . William B . Trice
On January 13 , the Pennsylvania Dental Association suffered the loss of Dr . William Benjamin Trice , one of our greatest and most extraordinary leaders , who passed away at age 98 at LECOM Senior Living Center in Erie .
Dr . Trice served as our PDA president in
1979-80 and as ADA First Vice President in 1991-92 . During his 62-year career in dentistry he achieved an endless list of honors , notably PDA ’ s highest honor , the Distinguished Service Award ( then known as the Annual Award ) in 1990 .
Listing his honors and awards do not begin to scratch the surface of the remarkable life Dr . Trice lived or the lives he touched . He loved to serve others and cared deeply about mentoring the next generation and encouraging people to join organized dentistry
As he told his good friend and our editor Dr . Steve Radack during a PDJ interview in 2016 , Dr . Trice considered it a privilege to be a part of ADA , PDA , Ninth District and Erie County Dental Association . His philosophy was “ no man is an island ,” and organized dentistry is “ your only lifeline in a storm .”
“ I am a blessed man . Dentistry and Erie have been great to me ,” Dr . Trice told Dr . Radack .
Dr . Trice was a dedicated husband , father , friend and colleague . He was preceded in death by his wife of 74 years , Dr . Mildred Moore Trice , and brothers , Robert L . Trice , and W . Shelley Trice . He is survived by two daughters , Sheila Trice Bell ( husband , Howard ), of Silver Spring , MD and Dr . Angela Trice Borgia ( husband , Samuel ), of Erie , PA ; four grandchildren , Mayet Andreassen ( husband , Erik ), Annora Bell ( husband , Lewis Smith ), William Bell ( wife , Kaitlin Konkel ), and Eliza Borgia ; four great grandchildren ; and other loving relatives .
Dr . Trice was born on January 28 , 1924 in Newton , Ga . He was raised in Weirton , W . Va ., when his father came north to work in the steel mill in Weirton . He was a World War II veteran , having served with the Seabees of the U . S . Navy in the 141 st Battalion .
After the war , he returned home and earned his Bachelor ’ s Degree and DMD from the University of Pittsburgh , soon embarking on a 62-year career . Beyond his PDA accolades , Dr . Trice was honored as a Distinguished Dental Alumnus and
Dental Alumnus Member of Distinction by Pitt Dental Medicine . Additionally , he was honored with the Thomas P . Hinman medallion . Dr . Trice was a member of the dental honor society OKU .
He was a devoted Pitt alumnus who was active in the Pitt School of Dental Medicine ’ s Board of Visitors , Executive Board and Alumni Association Board . He was an enthusiastic member and Past President of the University of Pittsburgh Alumni Association , as well as the Erie Pitt Alumni Club . Dr . Trice ’ s numerous university-wide Pitt awards include Legacy Laureate , the Bicentennial Medallion , the 1988 Pitt Volunteer of the Year , and the 1991 Distinguished Alumni Award .
Dr . Trice served as president of Ninth District Dental Association , Erie County Dental Association , the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Academy of Dental Electrosurgery . He was a Fellow in The American College of Dentistry , the Academy of General Dentistry and the International College of Dentists . Additionally , he was a diplomat of the American Board of Electrosurgery .
Dr . Steve Radack , Dr . Trice , and Dr . Andrew Kwasny
Dr . Andrew Kwasny , a good friend of Dr . Trice ’ s who followed in his footsteps as a PDA president from Erie in 2009-2010 , considered him one of his greatest influences .
“ Even after more than 30 years , I always addressed him as Dr . Trice . It was a sign of respect that he earned . Each time he would speak on whatever issue was before us , he always gave us that short introduction with a story about something that happened in his life . Looking back on those stories , it gave to all of us a short glimpse of what can only be described as wisdom . The story was followed by an insightful comment on even the most complicated challenge .
40 MARCH / APRIL 2023 | PENNSYLVANIA DENTAL JOURNAL