“GREAT TIMES AND TAN LINES” — the autobiography of Hawaiian Tropic founder Ron Rice, has become a best-selling book. Order yours now for only $18, which includes free shipping.
GREAT TIMES
& TAN LINES
How I Created Hawaiian Tropic, Turned it into a Billion-Dollar Company … And Had a Blast Doing It!
This is the amazing life story of RON RICE, who struggled to earn a decent living as a part-time chemistry teacher, assistant football coach and lifeguard, until one day he began mixing oils and lotions in a $4 garbage can, creating a product that led to Hawaiian Tropic and $4 billion in sales over the next four decades. This 16-chapter, 334-page book is part-business, part-Hollywood and 100 percent fascinating from start to finish!
About The Authors
Ronald J. Rice
Author/CEO
A 1964 University of Tennessee graduate, Ron was a self-made entrepreneur, assistant football coach, high school chemistry teacher and summer lifeguard who created Hawaiian Tropic. Ron promoted his wildly popular product on his own and became a marketing genius of sorts, splashing the company’s name on sailboats, airplanes, fast cars, billboards and finally – on bathing suits. He created beauty pageants and a line of Hawaiian Tropic models that soon became part of Americana. It all led to more than $4 billion in sales over four decades. After a brief illness, Ron died on May 19, 2022, at the age of 81.
Jeff Snook
Co-Author
A 1982 graduate of The Ohio State University School of Journalism, Jeff has also written autobiographies with gambling addict and former All-American quarterback Art Schlichter, former Virginia Tech football coach Frank Beamer and former Major League Baseball star turned Hall-of-Fame broadcaster, Ken “Hawk” Harrelson. This is his 14th book. He resides in Lantana, Florida, and Mifflin, Ohio.
About The Book
GREAT TIMES AND TAN LINES: How I Created Hawaiian Tropic, Turned it into a Billion-Dollar Company … And Had a Blast Doing It!”
is the amazing life story of Ron Rice, the company’s founder, as well as a complete biography of Hawaiian Tropic itself. Ron worked with co-author Jeff Snook for four years, telling the complete story starting with how he grew up poor but had big dreams beyond his native Asheville, North Carolina. After he settled on the beaches of the Daytona Beach area as he once had promised himself, he bounced from job to job and was fired often, struggling to earn a decent living. Then one day he walked into the garage of his rented house, started mixing oils and lotions in a $4 garbage can and thus created a product that led to Hawaiian Tropic — and the rest is history. In this autobiography, Ron details the rise of the company and all the fun he had with his employees, many of whom became very rich as well, along his incredible journey. This book is part-business, part-Hollywood and 100 percent fascinating from start to finish, as Ron tells stories of Burt Reynolds, Jerry Seinfeld, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, the Beach Boys, Robert Mitchum, Jimmy Stewart, Lucille Ball, Ted Turner, Joe Pesci, Hugh Hefner, Tom Brady, Jim Carrey, Larry David, Paul Newman along with dozens more encounters and friendships with the rich and famous, as well as how he dated some of the most beautiful women in the world but always struggled to find the right one to settled down with. Read how he fought with Beach Boys’ drummer Dennis Wilson, impressed Michael Douglas with one entrance, was snubbed by Ringo Starr, double-dated with O.J. Simpson and wife Nicole on that infamous New Year’s Eve of 1988, often feuded with singer John Denver, once jetted away on a whim just to find sun with good friend Julio Iglesias and so much more. Once you pick up this book, you will not be able to put it down until finishing the final page.
What’s inside
Chapter 1
IF I DIDN’T LIVE THROUGH IT, I WOULDN’T HAVE BELIEVED IT MYSELF
Chapter 2
FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA
Chapter 3
LEAVING HOME
Chapter 4
FROM INSURANCE TO ENGINEERING TO TEACHING AND LIFEGUARDING
Chapter 5
MY IDEA SHOWS PROMISE
Chapter 6
HELLO “HAWAIIAN TROPIC”
Chapter 7
“GUERRILLA MARKETING”
Chapter 8
GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS
Chapter 9
THE SALESMEN
Chapter 10
THE WORLD OF CELEBRITY
Chapter 11
HAVING FUN WHILE FIGHTING OFF THE VULTURES
Chapter 12
BACHELOR LIFE
Chapter 13
“MARRIAGE” AND FATHERHOOD
Chapter 14
THE PERKS OF BECOMING WEALTHY
Chapter 15
IT’S TIME TO SELL MY BABY
Chapter 16
YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW
With co-author Jeff Snook
With legendary actor/singer Dean Martin
With Sylvester Stallone
During a Hawaiian Tropic pageant
Chapters
Pages
What They’re Saying
Testimonials
“You were always kind and a great friend to me. Your good heart and your emotional and professional life story has been an example for everybody. You know I love you very much.”
“Only in America…. Ron Rice’s life story is a lesson in determination and perseverance.”
