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 | |
Preceded by | John A. Bacoats |
Succeeded by | Henry Ponder |
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 |
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.
Payton 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]
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 Bouléchapter of Sigma Pi Phi in Naples,Florida. [2]