An all-around athlete from Dunbar High School in Livingston, Texas, John Payton was a three-sport star at Prairie View A&M from 1952-56 as he participated in football, basketball and track & field.
Payton was best known for his gridiron exploits as he still holds several football rushing records at Prairie View A&M. Playing under the legendary William “Billy” Nicks, Payton holds the single game touchdown rushing record (4 /1954), single season rushing record (1,546/1954) and the all-time rushing mark of 3,703 yards. Behind the legs of Payton, the Panthers were nearly unstoppable during that era as he collected three SWAC Championships in addition to earning All-American honors following the 1954 and ’55 seasons.
After his career at Prairie View A&M came to a close, Payton made his name on the coaching circuit as he won two basketball state titles at Scott High School in Woodville, Texas. Payton moved to Beaumont, Texas following his stint in Woodville and cemented his name as one of the top coaches in the Golden Triangle.
Coaching at Charlton-Pollard High School, Payton served as head basketball coach and won the 1964 state championship while also serving as the offensive coordinator on the football field for a team which made it to the 1962 state semifinals and the 1969 regional finals. Payton also guided Charlton-Pollard High School’s track team to the 1970 UIL Region 3 Championship.
Payton moved on to the collegiate level in 1970 as he joined the football staff at Lamar University as the first African-American coach in university history. He spent 13 seasons as an assistant football coach on the staffs of Vernon Glass, Bob Frederick, Larry Kennan and Ken Stephens at Lamar in addition to serving stints as an assistant track coach, interim head football coach (1980) and academic advisor. Payton also served as an assistant professor in the department of health and kinesiology while also being retained as a consultant to the Lamar University Department of Athletics before retiring on May 30, 2013 after 57 years in education.
A 1988 inductee into the Prairie View A&M Sports Hall of Fame, Payton has been inducted into numerous halls of fames across the state of Texas. In 2007, a scholarship was set up at Lamar University in his honor while also receiving a merit award from Lamar for his outstanding commitment to education in 2008.
Payton has been married for over 50 years to his wife, Dolly. They have two children, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
