Jack Alfred Pace

Jack Alfred Pace, 88, founder of Pace Oil Company, died at his Magee residence on Monday, January 9, 2006. Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m., Wednesday, January 11, at First United Methodist Church of Magee. Mims Mitchell Funeral Home of Magee is handling arrangements.

Mr. Pace was born March 9, 1917, in Conehatta, Miss. and grew up in Philadelphia, Miss. After graduating from Philadelphia High School, he attended East Central Community College on an athletic scholarship, later continuing his education at Southern Mississippi Veterans Administration School.

He began his business career with a Sinclair service station in Hattiesburg, but World War II put his career on hold. He joined the U. S. Army on March 3, 1942 and served in the European theater until January 21, 1946. He rose to the rank of sergeant and saw duty in the Battle of the Bulge.

"World War II was the defining period of Jack's life," said son-in-law Al Gordy of Magee. "It determined who he became."

After returning to Hattiesburg, Pace became a wholesale oil jobber for Sinclair Oil with Magee as his territory and started night classes at Mississippi Southern. He also married Mary Louise, who would be his wife for 54 years, until her death in 2000.

In 1946, he founded Pace Oil Company, a Magee business which grew from two to 60 employees. The company celebrated 50 years in business in 1996, though Pace himself had retired in 1982, leaving the family business to the management of his son, Alfred Pace, and daughter, Jacqueline Gordy.

Elected to two terms in the Mississippi State Senate in 1960-1964 and 1968-1972, he served on various committees, including Finance and Oil and Gas. He was also actively involved in many state and local organizations. He was a Mason, a Shriner, State Commander of the American Legion, president of Mississippi Oil Jobbers for two years, and a member of the VFW, Lions Club, Mississippi Economic Council, Southeast Division of the American Red Cross, and the Magee Touchdown Club. He organized the Magee Civic Club and was president of the Magee Chamber of Commerce for two years. He was named Magee's Outstanding Citizen by the Chamber in 1989 and chosen for the Magee Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2003 he received a commendation for his public service and philanthropy from the Mississippi House of Representatives. Pace was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Magee, where he served on every committee in the church and taught the Men's Bible Class for 57 years.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Louise Pace; and sisters, Faye Hartung, Elizabeth Simmons, Margie Wilkins and Myra Nell Hannah. He is survived by his daughter, Jacqueline Pace Gordy and husband Al of Magee; son, Alfred Pace and wife Kim of Magee; grandchildren, Kyle Gordy, Kami Wert, Hugh Pace and Holly Pace; great-grandchildren, Mary Morgan Wert and Jack Thomas Gordy; and one brother, Joe Pace of Magee.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Building Fund of First United Methodist Church of Magee.