Otha P. Rice Sr.

Otha P. Rice Sr. a native of Texas moved to Denver after his family moved to Chicago. Yet Otha Rice would graduate from Manuel High School in Denver. He would soon work odd jobs before finally opening Rice’s Taproom and Oven, in Five Points. the venue would play jazz and blues and had a Hotel above the business. This quickly became a community hub in which people would gather and enjoy their free time. Mr. Rice soon became one of the founding fathers of the Juneteenth celebration which was a celebration from Texas that celebrated the end of slavery.