Generations of Pride - Texas Southern University

ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTSWillie Payne III:Alumnus of the YearBy Osjetta Gascey-MorrisWhen Willie Payne IIIgraduated from highschool he knew he was onestep closer to proving thenaysayers wrong. Abandonedby his mother at only sixmonths old and never meetinghis biological father, theForth Worth native battledthe negativity of his peersand teachers who told him hewould never graduate fromhigh school or go to college.Eventually, Payne’s uncle and auntadopted him and raised him as their own.Determined to change his environment,Payne moved to Houston to attend TexasSouthern University and enrolled in theFreshmen Studies Program, a platform whichallowed him to attend classes with his peersover a two year period to help him and otherfreshmen transition and adjust to college life.He joined several student organizations andpledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity beforereceiving his bachelor’s degree in politicalscience in 1974. He later obtained his master’sdegree in public administration from TSU in1976.“My parents always talked to me about theimportance of education,” he said. “They paidcash for my entire college education. Theywere making such a sacrifice cleaning floorsand toilets, I couldn’t let them down.”Payne joined General Foods’ MaxwellHouse division in the sales department andeventually moved up to management. He latermoved back to Houston and spent the next 15years working for Novartis Pharmaceuticalsbefore retiring and becoming an entrepreneur.He opened CAP InvestmentGroup, a real estate investmentcompany, with his wifeChristine.Giving back to his almamater continues to be a priorityfor Payne. His involvementwith TSU’s National AlumniAssociation and ongoinggenerosity to KTSU’s AnnualMembership Drive and otheractivities on campus landedhim the inaugural 2005 Alumnus of the YearAward.A successful business man, Payne andhis wife of 20 years volunteer at LakewoodChurch and Big Brothers Big Sisters.“I understand the principle of helpingothers, “Payne said. “As a result of my givingto TSU doors of opportunity have opened forme and will continue to open in the future.I get such a good feeling inside when I giveback to TSU that words cannot explain. I lookfor opportunities and find areas [to which]I can give. I have a bond with TSU that willnever be broken.”One of his passions involves recruitingyoung adults to attend TSU. Payne says theUniversity made such an impact on his life;he is passing the legacy to his 17-year-old sonwho visits the campus regularly and has builtrelationships with several faculty and staffmembers. His niece also attends TSU.“If I had to do it all again I would haveattended TSU and if not TSU anotherHBCU,” Payne expressed. “You could offerme money to attend Harvard or Princeton,but I would pay to attend TSU.”10 Spring 2006 • Generations of Pride