Librarian Marilyn Pace retiring after 50 years of service at OCHS

April 15, 2023 | 12:11 am

Updated April 14, 2023 | 10:05 pm

Marilyn Pace, librarian for Owensboro Catholic High School, is retiring after 50 years of service to OCHS at the end of the school year. | Photo by Ryan Richardson

Marilyn Pace, librarian for Owensboro Catholic High School, is retiring after 50 years of service to OCHS at the end of the school year. 

Her career at OCHS started shortly after graduating from Brescia University. One day she was dropping her younger brother off at the high school, and the principal at the time said they needed a French teacher so he asked her to stop by later that day for an interview. Pace said she was going to apply anyway, and was happy for the opportunity.

As an OCHS grad and with a father who worked at the school as a coach and athletic director for nearly 50 years, Pace said “it was wonderful to come back” to work at the school. 

For the first 6 years, Pace was an English and French teacher. During that time she pursued a degree in library science at Western Kentucky University. She was then named the school’s librarian, a role she’s held for the last 44 years. She continued to teach some classes as needed over the years.

Pace helped oversee the relocation of the school’s library. It was originally on the third floor of the Parrish Avenue side of the campus, it’s now on the first floor of the back side of the campus. She’s also overseen several changes that helped modernize the library.

“When we started, the 1970s was pre-computer, obviously. Even when we got computers, I backed up the system on cassette player,” she said.

Pace said she’ll miss her job and being at the school, but finally decided it was time to step away from the position.

“It’s kind of bittersweet,” she said. “It’s time for me to move on, and it’s time for new leadership down here. I really have enjoyed the people I have worked with. I can say I have never had a day where I’ve dreaded coming to work at all. I’ve just really enjoyed being here, and it’s been a wonderful place to work.”

OCHS Principal Gates Settle said he’s thankful for everything Pace did for the school and that she’ll be difficult to replace.

“She’s one of the people that when you think of Catholic High, you think of Marilyn Pace,” he said. “She is just sort of an institution. She does so many things for the school that she doesn’t have to do and she’s not asked to do, she just does it. That just goes back to her love and dedication for Catholic High. She’s also the historian of all things Catholic High. It will be a big void for us, but she certainly deserves to be recognized for everything she’s done.”

April 15, 2023 | 12:11 am

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