R. Wayne Pace

1931-2026

“A Professor’s Professor”

Dr R. Wayne Pace, Ph.D., passed away in St. George, Utah, on Saturday, August 15, 2026, lovingly surrounded by his wife Gae Tueller Pace, his children, and grandchildren at his home. He will be remembered most for his sense of humor, his dedication to achievement, his resolve to help others, and his love for his family. He was widely known as a “professor’s professor” which he earned through high standards, compassion, productivity in writing and publishing, as well as in teaching and training. He led by example and enthusiasm.

Wayne was born on 15 May 1931 in Wanship, Summit County, Utah, the eldest of five children of Ralph William and Elda Fernelius Pace.

He attended North Summit High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah, during which time he met his eternal partner, Gae Tueller of Geneva, Idaho. They were married in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple in 1953.

With his beloved spouse, he helped raise six children—Michael, Rebecca, Lucinda, Gregory, Angela, and Lavinia; twenty-two grandchildren, and 40+ great-grandchildren. He loved all of them deeply and welcomed them warmly.

Prior to being drafted into the Korean War, Wayne was extended a full-time mission call by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve in South Africa.

He served two years (1953-1955) in the US Army at Fort Ord, California, and taught high school for a year at Box Elder High School in Brigham City, Utah (1955-1956).

He received a Master’s degree in Public Address and Communication from Brigham Young University in 1957 and completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Communication Department at Purdue University in 1960, being the first doctoral candidate of Dr. W. Charles Redding, considered to be the “father” of the field of organizational communication.

His first appointment as a professor was at Parsons College (Fairfield, Iowa), with subsequent positions at California State University, Fresno; the University of Montana, the University of New Mexico, and Brigham Young University.

He was active in professional associations, holding more than 50 positions, serving as Founder and President of the Academy of Human Resource Development (1993), President, the Western States Communication Association (1978), President, the International Communication Association (1971), President, New Mexico (1973 & 1974) and the Montana (1968) State Communication Associations.

Dr. Pace was an author of more than 40 books, 50 monographs, theses, and articles, and 100 professional papers. He was a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a role expert for the ASTD National Competency and Standards Studies, a certified organizational communication auditor of the International Communication Association, and Leader of a Human Resource Training and Development Delegation (1994) to the People’s Republic of China as part of the People to People Citizen Ambassador Program.

Brother Pace served in most traditional teaching and administrative positions in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including a High Council, Councilor in a Bishopric and a Branch Presidency, High Priests Group Counselor, Secretary, and Teacher; Elders Quorum President, Sunday School President, YMMIA (Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Association) President, Deacon’s Quorum Advisor, Sunday School Teacher, and Stake Director of Teacher Development. He received the first “earned” Master M-Man Award in the Indiana Indianapolis Stake in 1960.

Wayne was a member of the Sons of Utah Pioneers, serving as chair of many committees and eventually as President of the Brigham Young Chapter, Vice President of the Central Utah Area, and Director of the Cotton Mission Chapter, and Founder and President of the Dixie Encampment Chapter in St. George. He was a member and on the Board of Directors of local chapters of Rotary in Missoula, Montana; Provo, Utah, and Lismore, NSW, Australia. He was a member and on the Board of Directors of the Kiwanis Club in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He was Professor of Communications (1978-1985) and Professor of Organizational Leadership (1986-1996) at Brigham Young University, where he taught both undergraduate and graduate courses; he created the Human Resource Development program and was founding Advisor of the Golden Key Honor Society and the BYU Chapter of the American Society for Training and Development.

He also served as chair of departments of communication at Parsons College (Iowa), California State University, Fresno; University of Montana and the University of New Mexico.

He and Gae traveled extensively around the United States, and made several trips to Singapore, New Zealand, and Australia where he served as University Research Fellow, adjunct professor, and visiting professor at Southern Cross University. He was also a visiting professor at several Australian and New Zealand Universities: The University of Adelaide, Swinburne University of Technology, and Canterbury University in Christchurch, New Zealand. He was also a visiting professor at California State University, Sacramento, Boise State University, and the University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands, where he was a Fulbright Scholar.

He served on the Board of Trustees of the Pace Society of America and was chair of the 1989 National Reunion of the Society held at Westminster College in Salt Lake City. He also wrote a multi-volume history of the Pace Family from Germany, including a list of the descendants of his Great Great Grandfather, Elisha Pace, as well as a Pace history of Summit County where the Pace Family settled.

Wayne received recognition from many organizations, among which were a “U” Award for Leadership in Student Activities at the University of Utah; an Outstanding Graduate Student Award from Brigham Young University; a Meritorious Service Award from the Department of Communication at BYU; a Research Excellence Award from the College of Fine Arts and Communications at BYU; a Distinguished Service Award from the National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers; an Outstanding Member Award and a Modern Pioneer Award from the Cotton Mission Chapter of the SUP; an Outstanding Member Award from the Organizational Communication Division of the International Communication Association; a Management Development Award of Excellence from the American Society for Training and Development; the HRD Professor’s Award of Excellence and Contribution to the Field from ASTD; an Honorary Lifelong Membership Award from the Academy of Human Resource Development which also named its annual book award, the R. Wayne Pace Book of the Year Award; and a BYU Emeriti Alumni Association Special Recognition Award.

Over the years, his recreational activities included racquetball, golf, and, especially after retirement, lawn bowling, where he was a member of the SunRiver Lawn Bowls Club and played in the Huntsman Senior Games in St. George. He founded and served as President of the St. George Lawn Bowls Club and led the movement to construct a lawn bowls center in St. George.

From 2013 through 2016, Wayne was coordinator of the St. George Red Sandstone Quarry Project, in which he guided the planning, approval, and construction of the Pathway to the Quarry Project, dedicated on 19 March 2016, allowing visitors to visit and study the quarry. He coordinated the WWI Commemorative project that identified 148 veterans buried in Washington County cemeteries. He served on the committee that opened the St. George Pioneer Courthouse for displays and events.

He is survived by his wife, Gae, of 73 years, two sons: Michael T. Pace and his wife, Ardith Hudgeons Pace, of Littleton, Colorado; Gregory W. Pace and his wife, Karen Titensor Pace, of St. George, Utah; four daughters: Rebecca P. Randall (her husband, the late Jared Randall) of Monticello, Utah; Lucinda P. Briggs Shumway (her husband, the late Kelly Shumway) of St. George, Utah; Angela P. Schroath and her spouse, Leonard, of Boise, Idaho; and Lavinia P. Mumford and her four children, of Las Vegas, Nevada; 22 grandchildren and 40+ great grandchildren; one sister: Joye P. Williams and her spouse, Robert, of Hoytsville, Utah. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Elden F. Pace of Hoytsville, Utah, and Ronald F. Pace of Ogden, Utah, and one sister, Leah Pace Camp of Twin Falls, Idaho.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 28, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building located at 1068 Chandler Dr, St. George, UT 84770. The viewing will be done prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:300 AM. Burial will be at the Tonaquint Cemetery located at 1777 S Dixie Dr, St. George, UT 84770. 

In lieu of flowers, please send cash donations to the R. Wayne and Gae T. Pace Family Trust, 477 Rolling Hills Drive, St. George, Utah.