A team source told ESPNDallas.com's Buzz Carrick that Rhine suffered an apparent heart attack while vacationing with his family in Florida.
"The FC Dallas family is shocked and saddened by the passing of Bobby Rhine and our thoughts and prayers are with Bobby's wife Bevan and the entire Rhine family in this very difficult time," said Clark Hunt, chairman of Hunt Sports Group. "From the early days at the Cotton Bowl with the Dallas Burn, through the transition to FC Dallas and Pizza Hut Park, Bobby was one of the most respected and beloved figures in club history. We will miss Bobby's passion for the beautiful game, his dedication to FC Dallas and our supporters, and the positive spirit he shared with everyone he met."
Rhine was drafted by the team in the first round of the 1999 draft and appeared in 212 games for Dallas, scoring 23 goals and adding 34 assists. He was known for doing whatever it took for the team, playing everywhere from striker to some rare appearances in defense.
When he retired at the end of the 2008 season, Rhine moved into the front office as manager of community development and color commentator. This season he became FC Dallas' play-by-play man.
"It is an extremely sad day in the history of FC Dallas," said Doug Quinn, president and CEO of FC Dallas. "Bobby was the voice and face of our club and always a very popular figure with our fans. Everyone connected with FC Dallas has been affected by this tragic news and we wish to send our heartfelt condolences to Bobby's family. We want to take this opportunity to thank Bobby for his tireless work for our club and acknowledge everything he has done to help grow the game of soccer in our community. He will be greatly missed."
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