CEDAR CITY — Pace Clarke has been named interim director of the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games, according to Southern Utah University.
Pace started with Utah Summer Games in 2016 as the operations and development coordinator. He was responsible for fostering and developing sponsorships, writing grants, managing the budget and finding new ways to serve volunteers and donors who support the games. He also worked on the strategic planning committee and helped introduce new sports to the competition.
“The Utah Summer Games have been a great avenue for my family to be involved in both the Cedar City and SUU communities,” Clarke said. “The positions I have held within USG have allowed me to be part of a great nonprofit organization that I have enjoyed working with throughout the past couple of years.”
As the interim director, Clarke will be in charge of maintaining the reputation and growth of the games. He will oversee its operations, events and donor relations.
“We are excited for Pace to lead the Utah Summer Games forward,” Mindy Benson, vice president of alumni and community relations at SUU, said. “We have confidence that he will lead a seamless transition and a successful 2018 Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games.”
Moving forward in the 33rd year of the games, Clarke hopes to get Cedar City and SUU more involved in the process.
“The success of the Utah Summer Games comes from a combined effort,” Clarke said. “One of our main goals is to work together with the local organizations and businesses not only to maintain and further the USG’s economic impact, but also to inspire pride in hosting one of Utah’s largest amateur sporting events.
“We have the opportunity to showcase the beauty, culture and support of Iron County. With work from all, USG will continue to grow and maintain its legacy of community and excellence in the human spirit.”
Pace, who grew up in Tropic, Utah, earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern Utah University, before moving back to Tropic to work as the branch manager for State Bank of Southern Utah. He has loved returning to Cedar City and working for the Utah Summer Games while pursuing a Master of Public Administration at SUU.
The Utah Summer Games attracts athletes of all ages and skill level from across the western United States to compete in more than 40 different sporting events. Since 1986, the event has been conducted in Cedar City with an average of 9,600 participants, 50,000 spectators and 1,000 volunteers each year.
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