BDPA Co-Founder, IT Hall of Famer, and Tech Industry Legend
Earl A. Pace, Jr. passes
away at 79
By Norman Mays, Kenneth Wilson, and Sharrarne Morton, BDPA
If you are interested in attending the virtual memorial service please register at this link below. Attached is a short bio of our forward-thinking and ahead of his time founder Mr. Earl A.Pace Jr.:
National BDPA photo by Charlie Perkins
LARGO, MD (BDPA) –
Earl A. Pace, Jr., a computer programmer trainee at the Pennsylvania
Railroad who went on to become an entrepreneur, an iconic figure of civil
rights in the tech industry, and a staunch proponent of technology inclusion
initiatives, died February 19, 2022, after enduring a long illness his family
said in a statement. He was 79.
“All of us will miss his caring, his love, and his sound wisdom as co-founder
of Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA). The
date and details of a memorial service will be announced shortly. Please keep
us in your hearts and prayers.”
A
distinguished alum of The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), Mr. Pace
has been in the Information Technology (IT) industry since 1965. He left the
Pennsylvania Railroad in 1967. Over the next decade, he rose through the ranks
of programmer, programmer analyst, programming manager, and Vice President of a
financial telecommunications company in Philadelphia, PA. He became a business
owner in 1976 when he incorporated Pace Data Systems, a full-service information
technology firm providing services and support through its Philadelphia, PA,
and Washington, D.C. offices primarily to banks and savings banks.
In 1975, Mr. Pace co-founded BDPA in
Philadelphia and operated as its president for two years. In 1978 he
coordinated the formation of BDPA into
a national organization and functioned as its first National President until
1980. National BDPA has grown into
one of the largest professional organizations representing minorities across
the IT industry. In 1992, the BDPA Education
and Technology Foundation (BETF or BDPA Foundation)
chaired by Mr. Pace, was founded to support the education and technical
programs of BDPA. In 2011, Mr. Pace
was the first IT-Innovator honored during CompTIA’s annual IT Hall of
Fame induction ceremony.
Within BDPA and on a broader
industrial scale, Mr. Pace was a vocal advocate for business ownership. His
primary message since starting BDPA has
always been minorities should strive to rise above just ‘getting a job’ while
pursuing ownership, operating their own businesses, and landing a position on a
Corporate Board of Directors.
About BDPA
BDPA, formerly known as Black Data
Processing Associates, is an international organization with a diverse
membership of professionals and students at all levels in the fields of
information technology, computer science, data science, and related science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Founded in Philadelphia,
PA in 1975, BDPA Members and BDPA Student Members remain actively engaged in
serving their respective communities through technology inclusion programs and
STEM outreach events while charting the futures of IT and digital inclusivity
with Industry.
We continue to expand his dreams to touch all who seek knowledge of digital advancement and to break the digital divide.
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