In many cities across the country, the idea of a community doctor is long gone. But in Lillian, the same doctor has served the residents of the town for 25 years.

Dr. James Pace, the family practitioner in Lillian, was honored July 22 for his service at a dinner attended by more than 250 people.

Berdine Rittenhouse first conceived the idea to recognize Dr. Pace with a potluck lunch for the doctor and his office staff. But soon, Emma Fell, Char Kuhr, Jill Ruiz and Margret Scott joined her, and the ladies started planning a bigger event.

Doris Green agreed to prepare a Thanksgiving-style dinner, and reservations were made at the Lillian Community Club. Tickets had to be sold to keep the event at a manageable size, and within weeks, tickets sold out and the volunteer list grew longer and longer.

Honoring Dr. Pace for his 25 years of caring was definitely a community effort,” said Joyce Sheldon, one of the organizers of the event. “Honoring the doctor was truly an effort of love. We all fee privileged to live in this community with such a dedicated doctor.”

Others who helped make the celebration successful were Karen Messerli, Betty Logan, Evelyn Duckworth, Jean Dean, Sue Cowan, Pat Brantley, Gene Fell, Joyce Sheldon, Bruce Twigg, Fred Land, Sonny Keigley, John Flynn, Margret Schaff, Betty Schmitz, Catherine Williams, John Williams, Roy Rittenhouse, Juanita Campbell, Wilma Spivey and the staff of the Lillian Library.

Dr. Pace graduated from the Indiana University School of Medicine in 1976. He practiced family medicine in Ohio before coming to Lillian.