Russellville Mayor David Grissom presents Russellville Electric Board chairman Tom Pace with a certificate renaming the Russellville Electric sub-station the Tom Pace Sub-Station.

Russellville Electric Board chairman Tom Pace was visibly overcome with emotion as the crowd of 15,000 people at the city’s Jam on Sloss Lake event clapped and cheered for him.

Pace, who was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of small cell carcinoma, came to Friday’s event to watch the fireworks with his family, but when he was driven up to the stage area, he was surprised to find out city officials had something extra planned.

During a special presentation just before the fireworks began, Russellville Mayor David Grissom and Russellville Electric Board CEO Charlie Canida presented Pace with a framed certificate authorizing the new Russellville Electric sub-station on South Jackson Avenue would be re-named the Tom Pace Sub-Station.

“I consider this a great honor because there were so many people that deserved this more than me,” Pace said.

“I am thankful that my fellow board members, the members of the Russellville City Council, and the mayor respect me that much.

“I love my hometown and it’s been a great honor to serve the people of Russellville through the years.

“I appreciate everything that has been done for me and my family and every prayer that has been prayed on my behalf.”

Grissom said the honor was much deserved for Pace, who has served the city of Russellville for nearly 30 years.

“Tom started his service to the city with the street department where he served for almost 20 years,” Grissom said.

“Part of that time was also spent as the superintendent of the street department, but Tom wasn’t just a supervisor – he was a worker. Tom has been a hard worker his whole life and has always given 110 percent to anything he does.”

Because of his dedication to hard work and the city, Grissom knew Pace would be the right choice to replace him as a member of the Russellville Electric Board.

“When I was elected to the city council in 2008, I was a member of the electric board and could technically still serve even though I had been elected, but I felt it would be better to have another citizen fill that position,” Grissom said.

“Tom immediately came to mind because I knew he would do a good job, give it his all, and serve the citizens of Russellville well, so he was my recommendation.

“Once he had served out my unexpired term on the board, he was unanimously reappointed by the city council to serve another term.

“When Charlie Canida moved from chairman of the electric board to CEO, Tom’s fellow board members voted for him to be the chairman and he has done a fine job in that capacity.

“We appreciate his service to the city of Russellville and to the Russellville Electric Board.”