J. Malcolm Pace III sit-by-me Statue - Ashland, Virginia
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N 37° 45.495 W 077° 28.877
18S E 281420 N 4181892
Ponder immortal fame, the love of reading, and a bronze foundry's backstory from The Center of the Universe in Ashland, Virginia, with Jay Pace, editor and publisher of the bygone Herald-Progress newspaper, at this sit-by-me statue.
Waymark Code: WM148V2
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 05/19/2021
Views: 2
Ponder immortal fame, the love of reading, and a bronze foundry's backstory from The Center of the Universe in Ashland, Virginia, with Jay Pace, editor and publisher of the bygone Herald-Progress newspaper, at this sit-by-me statue.
The life-size Pace is seated on the left side of a polished, slightly ornate, dark granite bench along the north edge of a small plaza in front of the Ashland Branch of the Pamunkey Regional Library. Bespectacled, legs crossed, left arm resting atop the backrest, the tranquil figure's natural pose portrays a man casually reading a folded local newspaper held in his right hand. The creator incorporated custom "articles" about the honoree and himself for the newspaper component's design which you can clearly read as you spend some time with the statue.
A cast brass plaque that faces South Railroad Avenue is mounted to an angled, red brick socle at the west end of the bench and reads:
J. MALCOLM PACE III
"JAY"
Newspaper Editor/Publisher
Community and Church Leader
Randolph-Macon College Supporter
Musician, Friend and Family Man
July 28, 1945 - April 12, 2004
The sculptor Robert Bricker is acknowledged on a plaque across the plaza from this piece commissioned for 2007.
Personal Note: I found it an interesting coincidence to realize the day I happened to discover this statue was the day before the 17th anniversary of his death.