| Overall UK Wins: 27 | Overall UK Losses: 8 | Win % 77.1 |
Date of Birth: June 12, 1928
Date of Death: January 6, 2016
Hometown: Tavares, FL
Alma Mater: Florida [1950]
For a generalized listing of officials, please consult this page.
Obituary - Orlando Sentinel (January 23, 2016)
Pace, Richard Dick
Passed away on the 6th of January after an extended illness at the age of 87. He was born in Tavares, FL. He was preceded in death by his parents Murl and Leola Pace.
Upon graduating from high school, he received 39 sports scholarship offers and selected the University of Florida where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He was elected to the UF Hall of Fame in 1987. Additionally, he was elected to the Hall of Fame for the Florida High School Activities Assoc., Florida Citrus Bowl, Central Florida Officials Assoc., National High School Sports, and Florida sports.
He started officiating sports in 1950 at the high school level and joined the Southeastern Conference where he worked for 29 years. He worked 20 major college bowl games including the Sugar, Orange, Fiesta, and other major bowls. He was President of the SEC Officials in Football and Basketball. He served as the Commissioner of the Sunshine Conference for 9 years and Supervisor of Officials for 15 years. He was President of the Orlando Touchdown Club where he was given the Dr. Frank Gray Award.
He was the owner of Pace Insurance and was President of the Florida Independent Insurance Agents. He served his country in the US Air Force at various locations.
He is survived by nieces Merle Skinner, Jane Hardy, Mary K. Cooper, Shirlene Parker and Carole Walston; nephews Lynn "Bud" Hardy, Jim Pappas, Dick Pappas and B.E. Pace.
A celebration of Dick's life will be held at the Asbury United Methodist Church in Maitland on Friday, the 29th of January, 2016 at 12:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Asbury United Methodist Church, 220 W. Horatio Ave, Maitland, FL 32751.
