Richard H. PAYNE

1941 - 2016

PAYNE, Richard H.
Richard Harold Payne, Professor Emeritus of Political Science and former longtime chair and faculty member of the Sam Houston State University (SHSU) Political Science Department, passed away on April 20, 2016, due to complications of COPD. Dr. Payne was also a former Associate Vice-President of Research and Sponsored Programs at Sam Houston State University, where he and his staff worked with outside funding agencies, including all levels of state and federal government. An avid and passionate birdwatcher for nearly half his life, he traveled globally in pursuit of his hobby and research. Upon retiring from the university in 2001, he became more deeply involved in his lifelong nonprofit work-- most notably with the American Birding Association (ABA), where he was the President and CEO from 2006 to 2009. Throughout the latter half of his life, and most notably involving his work with the ABA, Dr. Payne visited all seven continents at least once to see avian fauna in their natural habitat. Additionally, he was an accomplished nature photographer and had several photographs published in guidebooks, textbooks, and travel brochures. His global travels and passion for "birding" allowed him to view in person more than half of all known species of birds.

Richard Harold Payne was born on April 30, 1941, in Lowell, Massachusetts. He was the third son, and youngest child, of Calvin Lee Payne, Sr., and Helen Josephine Payne (née Hennessey). Though born in Massachusetts, he spent the majority of his childhood in Evans, Georgia, and North Augusta, South Carolina, where he was a graduate of North Augusta High School, lettering in drama and football, and playing on state championship football teams. Payne received his undergraduate degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Georgia (UGA). He stayed at UGA to complete his Masters and Doctorate in Political Science, matriculating with his Ph.D. in 1970.

Richard Payne was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and good friend, who will be missed by many who knew him, and by his loving family. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Kathy Payne (née Freydenfeldt); son, Jim Payne, and daughter-in-law, Stephanie Payne, of Lewisville, Texas; daughter, Linn Payne, and son-in-law, Troy-David Phillips, of Annandale, Virginia; grandchildren Rachel Garton and David Payne, both of Denton, Texas; brother, Tom Payne, and sister-in-law, Hettie Payne, of Jonesboro, Georgia; sister-in-law, Jennie Payne, of Jasper, Georgia, and nieces and nephews across the country. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Harriett Payne (née Rowan), in 1977; an older brother, Lee Payne, of Atlanta, Georgia, in 2003; and a grandson, Will Phillips, of Annandale, Virginia, in 2015.

Services for Dr. Payne will be on Friday, June 24, 2016, at 11 a.m., at The Gabriels Funeral Chapel in Georgetown, Texas, followed by interment of his ashes at Mt. Moriah Cemetery in Briggs, Texas. In lieu of flowers the family urges donations to either the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (birds.cornell.edu) or the COPD Foundation (copdfoundation.org).