David E. Pace; Creator of Popular Hot Sauce

David E. Pace, 79, creator of the original Pace Picante Sauce in 1947. Pace’s famous hot sauce received a gold medal in the Monde selection in Brussels, Belgium, and was named best picante sauce in the world three times. A native of Monroe, La., Pace was the son of a maple syrup and jelly manufacturer. He earned a football scholarship to Tulane University, where he played in the first Sugar Bowl. In San Antonio, after coaching football and serving as an Army test pilot, Pace entered the syrup business. He cooked and bottled jellies, jams and syrups, but later decided the real syrup of Texas was picante sauce. He and his wife at the time, Margaret Bosshardt, formed Pace Foods with a family recipe of jalapenos, onions and garlic, which he perfected by adding tomatoes. The Paces divorced in 1976. Shortly afterward, Pace sold the company to his former wife. In San Antonio on Monday of heart failure.