Derrick Walton
Staff Writer
Eddie Payton has accomplished much throughout his life and is still acknowledged for many of his life time achievements and accomplishments.
Born in Columbia, Miss., Payton attended John Jefferson High School and was the first Payton to play professional football in the National Football Association.
Payton was talented in a variety of sports in high school. During his senior year, he was named All-Conference in football, track and basketball.
He was an outstanding baseball player and could have played for the Atlanta Braves. However, he decided to attend Jackson State University and play football on a scholarship.
He graduated from JSU in 1973 and now has degrees in Health, Physical Education and Mathematics.
People began to acknowledge him during his NFL career with the Detroit Lions after he made two touchdowns on returns in one game that was broadcasted on national television.
Payton is a former president of the Minority College Golf Coaches Association. He is a member of the National Golf Coaches Association of America, the Mississippi Athletic Commission, the
National Minority Junior Golf Scholarship Association and the American Cancer Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He also oversees the Payton Foundation as its executive director.
Payton has been inducted into several Hall of Fames, which include JSU ‘s Sports Hall of Fame, the National Black Golf Hall of Fame, the Marion County Sports Hall of Fame, the African American Golfer’s Hall of Fame and the SWAC Hall of Fame.
As of today, Payton continues to serve as the head golf coach of JSU and has earned both the SWAC Coach of the Year Award and the National Minority Coach of the Year Award.
