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.
Benjamin F. Payton | |
|---|---|
| President of Tuskegee University | |
| In office 1981–2010 | |
| Preceded by | Luther H. Foster Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Charlotte P. Morris |
| President of Benedict College | |
| In office 1967–1972 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 27, 1932 Orangeburg, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | September 28, 2016 Estero, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | South Carolina State University Harvard University Columbia University Yale University |
Early life
editPayton was born on December 27, 1932, in Orangeburg, South Carolina.[1][2] He had a brother Dr. Cecil W. Payton 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
editPayton 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]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Roberts, Sam (October 11, 2016). "Benjamin Payton, Transformative Leader of Tuskegee University, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Silverberg, David (October 24, 2016). "Former Tuskegee President Benjamin Payton shaped Alabama school, civil rights history". Naples Daily News. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
- ^ "On Campus". The Pittsburgh Courier. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. November 4, 1972. p. 11. Retrieved June 20, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Benjamin F. Payton". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. October 16, 2016. p. B10. Retrieved June 20, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Dr. Benjamin Franklin Payton". Tuskegee University. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
External links
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