A few months ago my mom got a call from the Cattlemen's Association telling her they wanted to honor my dad at this years convention for being a Legacy among Cattlemen. So my mom secretly arranged for all of us to come to the Sheraton during the award luncheon and see my dad be presented with this award. It was awesome to see my dad stunned when he came into the conference room and saw all of us sitting at tables.
My sister Brooke gave this wonderful introduction describing the history of my dad in the cattle business.
Dad’s Tribute
In December, 1988, Dick and his wife Becky were on an
airplane going to Nashville, Tennessee to a National Trade Tech
Conference. Dick was wearing his
western clothes and Stetson hat and a couple of young ladies said to him, "Are
you a real Cowboy?" Dick looked at them
and said, "yes, I sure am. I am a
Real Cowboy. They said, "Wow, we
have never seen a real Cowboy before."
Dick's life-time journey started in
1943, the first-born son to Guy and Barbara Pace in Teasdale, Utah. Dick's father, at the time, was stationed in
Germany where he was serving as a Commissioned Officer in the Army in World War
II. His mother was living in Teasdale
with her parents. It was six months
before Dick's father Guy was able to come home and meet his new son. Dick was 2 years old when World War II ended
and his father, Guy, came home to his family in Teasdale. Barbara's father gave them 60 acres, 30 of
which was farm and 90 head of sheep permit, which Guy immediately converted to
cattle permit on Dixie National Forest. As
time went on, Dick's family started expanding the business acquiring another
farm in Grover from Barbara's father. In
1949, they bought a herd of horses and permit in the Desert, which is now
Capitol Reef National Park. Dick's dad
sold the horses to the local Fish Hatchery and purchased cattle and converted
that permit to cattle.. In the 1960's
they bought out their Uncle Guy Coombs' adjoining farm and expanded from 30 to
108 acres and purchased 70 more cows.
Dick, being the first child, was
immediately exposed to the Ranching way of life. In fact, his father needed his help and
depended on him to help with daily chores. He remembers as a very young boy,
performing all of the ranching chores such as riding horses, irrigating,
building fence, and milking the cows by hand.
Dick has never liked to drink Milk. He always said that he knew what
else was in the milk bucket after the cow brushed up against it OR STEPPED in
it.!! He remembers cutting the hay and rolling it off the truck. Dick remembers being part of the Beef Trust
where in the summer, 20 neighbors would provide 1 beef each week, which was
then split up into 20 sections, each neighbor receiving a different section
each week.
Dick Graduated from Wayne High
School. And went on to attended College at College of Southern Utah, now SUU
and Utah State University. He was chosen
to be on the Livestock Judging team and traveled around the Western states
judging Livestock. During this time he
returned home in the summers and some Falls to work on the Ranch. Dick
graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture
Economics with a minor in Agriculture Science. After graduating in December 1967, he was
immediately drafted into the Army and was sent to Viet Nam.
After returning home he started
Ranching again with his father. In May, 1970, Dick met his wife Rebecca (Becky)
Morrell . They were engaged on Christmas Eve 1971 and were married June 17,
1972.
Dick obtained a job as the USU
Extension Agent in Wayne County and helped on the Ranch nights and weekends.
Becky obtained a teaching job at Wayne Elementary teaching Music. Within the next 6 years, they had built a new
home in Teasdale on the Ranch, had four children, and Dick could see the Ranch
needed him, so he quit the Extension Service and started ranching full-time
with his father and brother.
Dick and Becky started their family
in 1974 and had 5 daughters. Brooke,
Sarah, Collette, Allyson, and Raquel. Dick
always said, 'Girls are better than boys
because they can help you all day on the farm and then come home and fix you
dinner.' The girls grew up helping on
the Ranch, learning to ride horses at a young age and riding for cattle on the
ranges. They also were assigned certain
sprinkler pipe to move twice a day..
During this time, the Ranch
expanded as they purchased more land and cattle. They incorporated and the Ranch then became
Pace Ranches, Inc. The local Recorder
told Becky that in the 70's when everyone was selling land, the Pace’s were
buying land.
When Dick was young, they had Hereford
Cattle. In the 70's they changed to
Devon cattle and then discovered Gelbvieh Cattle and started their pure-bred
Gelbvieh herd which evolved into the all-black pure-blood Gelbvieh herd they
have today. They have been very successful selling their Pure-Blood Gelbvieh
Bulls for many years. Dick has been on
many bull-buying trips to purchase his herd bulls to Montana, Colorado, Oregon,
Nebraska, and Texas.
In 2005, Dick and Becky bought out
1/3 of the land and cattle owned by Pace Ranches and started their own RPR
Ranch. Three months ago, they expanded RPR and were able to purchase more farm
ground from their neighbor, right next
to their Ranch in Teasdale, Utah. To
keep the Ranching business going, they have been able to sponsor two workers
from Peru as Livestock Workers. Also his grandson’s love to help frequently on
the ranch.
Dick's Leadership qualities started
in High School and have continued all of his life. He served his Country for 2 years in the Army
during the Viet Nam War. And has served on various boards and positions throughout
his life. His peers look to him in meetings with the BLM and Forest Service for
his wisdom and common sense approach, as he isn't afraid to take a stand regardless
of pressure or opposition. He describes
himself as being 'tough skinned' and doesn't let things bother him. He can confront or argue with someone and be
his best friend the next day.
Dick's has never met a
stranger. He was born with 'The Gift of
Gab, and he can immediately connect with
anyone regardless age, position, or status.
He has a remarkable memory. He likes to go to the Auctions and see and
visit his old friends.
Our dad has loved the opportunity
to be in the ranching industry. He has spent most all of his life doing
this. What we love most about our dad is
his strong-will and determination in defending the rights of the
cattlemen. He likes to seem to be rough
and tough on the outside but on the inside he has a big heart, and would do
anything he could for anyone. He loves
to have all of his children and grandchildren surrounding him. One of his life long goals was that all of his daughters graduate from college. He is proud of all of us for fulfilling this goal of his. Thank you dad for all of your service to our
country, our community and especially our family.
I'm proud of his legacy and I'm proud to be a daughter of a real cowboy!!!
