One of Columbus East High School’s newest inductees to its Wall of Fame oversees one of the largest university research diving programs in the nation.
But the honoree’s father, Dr. Ben Pence, recently recalled a moment from David Pence’s Columbus boyhood years — memories already filled with aquatics.
“In my mind, I can still see him, standing on the edge of the Donner (Aquatic Center) pool, shivering before one of the (Donner swim team) practices,” the father said at Friday’s Wall of Fame reception in the school lobby to honor alumni members.
The sheer success of David Pence, a member of East’s Class of 1975, may be the only thing leaving folks shivering these days with awe. Based in Honolulu, he supervises a University of Hawaii dive team of more than 200 people in support of ocean science and research of all types.
The school alumni association organized the gathering, rescheduled after a snowstorm caused a postponement from the original Jan. 19 date.
Class of 1982 member Doug Eckrote also was honored by adding his name to the wall at the event. He serves as senior vice president of small business sales and eCommerce for Fortune 500 firm CDW. The business is an Illinois-based leading multi-brand technology solutions provider in everything from business to health care.
Award presentations were made later in the evening at halftime of the boys’ varsity basketball game.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
