Generations of Pride - Texas Southern University

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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
Q&A with Judy Dyer:First on the FieldBy Misty Starkswith contributions by James HollinsJudy Dyer(’69) hassuperior athleticability, amulti-facetedbusiness senseand an extraordinarylove forher alma mater,Texas SouthernUniversity.Born and raisedin Topeka, Kansas,Dyer wasa natural bornathlete. Activelyrecruited, sheattended theUniversity onan athletics scholarship; Dyer joined the cheerleadingsquad, participated in pageants and joined the trackteam. She was one of six athletes to start the women’strack and field team in 1966, called the TSU Tigerettes.Most notably, her involvement with the track teamwould make her TSU’s first female USA Olympianand get her into the Southwest Athletic Conference(SWAC) Hall of Fame in 2001.Dyer at ‘68 Olympics,MexicoYou were inducted into theSWAC Hall of Fame. Whatsignificant milestones led tosuch an honor?I was a member of the TSU440-yard relay team that wonthe SWAC championship duringthe 1967-69 seasons. I tiedthe U.S. record for the 80-meterhurdles. I was also a memberof the spring medley relayteams that won both SWACand national titles between ‘67and ‘69, and [it was throughthese accomplishments] thatI qualified for the Olympicteam.Dyer in her days as a TSUTigerette.What course did your entrepreneurial efforts take?Several businessventures across thecountry. I openedmy first business, alimousine companycalled Luxury byDesign in Los Angeles,California atthe age of 37. I leftLos Angeles andstarted working forEntrepreneur magazineas a top businessconsultant forthree years. Frommy experience atthe magazine, Idecided to open Simply Julia’s Fitness Center in myhometown in Kansas.How did TSU play a part in your success?The experience [I got] from TSU was like none other.There is a genuine love for one another as AfricanAmericans at the University. [I received] a qualityeducation, and when I combined that with commonsense, business sense and street sense, I figured I couldmake it anywhere.What advice do you have for TSU students andalumni?Never stop dreaming.Any last words?I encourage alumni to come back and give to the University.[Alumni] must help the next generation. If wedo not give back, we are lost.Ten years ago, Dyer started Managed Medical Associates,Inc.; a medical cost containment company thathelps insurance companies handle automobile claimsand lower the cost of expenditures. Ever since she canremember, Dyer wanted to achieve great success. Anextraordinary athlete and a dynamic businesswomanwith a thriving company, Dyer has truly realized remarkabletriumphs in her career and in life.Generations of Pride • Spring 2006 11
Page 1 and 2: Generations ofTexas Southern Univer
Page 3 and 4: M ESSAGE FROMD R . THEOPHILUS HERRI
Page 5 and 6: TSU Installs State-of-the-Art Full-
Page 7 and 8: ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTSJa Ja BallM. Annet
Page 9: without much hesitation. In 1943, s
Page 13 and 14: Source: TSU ArchivesPhoto by Annie
Page 15 and 16: After graduating from TSU, Barbara
Page 17 and 18: Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School
Page 19 and 20: Former President George H. W. Bush
Page 21 and 22: RESEARCH SPOTLIGHTResearch Week 200
Page 23 and 24: Jose Cedillos, a student in the BJ-
Page 25 and 26: advocates who championed the cause
Page 27 and 28: Generations of Pride • Spring 200
Page 29 and 30: Keep in touchE-mail: tsualumni@tsu.
Page 31 and 32: TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITYNational A

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