Benjamin F. Payton

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Benjamin F. Payton
President of
Tuskegee University
In office
1981–2010
Preceded byLuther H. Foster Jr.
Succeeded byCharlotte P. Morris
President of
Benedict College
In office
1967–1972
Personal details
BornDecember 27, 1932
Orangeburg, South Carolina, U.S.
DiedSeptember 28, 2016
Estero, Florida, U.S.
Alma materSouth Carolina State University
Harvard University
Columbia University
Yale University

Benjamin F. Payton (December 27, 1932 - September 28, 2016) was an African-American academic administrator. He served as the president of two historically black universities: Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina from 1967 to 1972 and Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, Alabama from 1981 to 2010.

Early life[]

Payton was born on December 27, 1932 in Orangeburg, South Carolina.[1][2] He had a brother Cyril, who later worked as executive assistant to the president of Morgan State University.[2]

Payton graduated from South Carolina State University, where he earned a bachelor's degree, followed by another bachelor's degree from Harvard University, a master's degree from Columbia University and a PhD from Yale University.[1][2]

Career[]

Payton served as the president of Benedict College from 1967 to 1972.[3] He worked for the Ford Foundation for the next nine years.[1]

Payton served as the president of Tuskegee University from 1981 to 2010.[1] During his tenure, he raised $240 million.[2] His other accomplishments included "creating five colleges, launching the school’s first doctoral programs, a continuing education program and centers for aerospace science and health education."[2] It was also thanks to his leadership that President Bill Clinton issued an apology to the university for the Tuskegee syphilis experiment in 1997.[4]

Payton served on the boards of directors of AmSouth Bancorporation ITT Inc., the Liberty Corporation, Praxair, and Ruby Tuesday.[5]

Payton was a charter member of the Epsilon Nu Boulé chapter of Sigma Pi Phi in Naples, Florida.[2]

Personal life and death[]

Payton had a wife, Thelma Plane.[2] They had a son and a daughter.[5]

Payton died on September 28, 2016 in Estero, Florida.[1][2]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Roberts, Sam (October 11, 2016). "Benjamin Payton, Transformative Leader of Tuskegee University, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h Silverberg, David (October 24, 2016). "Former Tuskegee President Benjamin Payton shaped Alabama school, civil rights history". Naples Daily News. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  3. ^ "On Campus". The Pittsburgh Courier. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. November 4, 1972. p. 11. Retrieved June 20, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Benjamin F. Payton". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. October 16, 2016. p. B10. Retrieved June 20, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Dr. Benjamin Franklin Payton". Tuskegee University. Retrieved June 20, 2018.

External links[]



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