As he embraced his son in front of the plaque at Payne Hall that bears his name, “HAP” Payne’s eyes filled with tears.

Haywood A. Payne, Jr. ’68 was spending his first moments in the state-of-the-art building that bears his name, and described his feelings as “honored,” “impressed,” and “overwhelmed.” Payne is one of two namesakes for the 30,000-square-foot Payne Hall, which first opened in October 2020 and was dedicated with a virtual ceremony due to the pandemic. Since he had not yet seen the building, Payne traveled from California and toured the facility with his son Chris, and his brother, sister, and sister-in-law who live in Richmond. Throughout the tour, he and his family admired the building’s technology, which includes cutting-edge labs, high-tech classrooms, and a simulation center in support of nursing education. He cheered the College’s investment in the future with its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.

“The College has positioned itself to provide cutting-edge technology and training to our next generation of nurses,” he said, noting that the liberal arts curriculum is a perfect pairing for the technical training they receive. “We need nurses, who can think critically and solve problems, now more than ever.” 

Payne’s contributions to Randolph-Macon’s history are the reason his name appears on the building, which honors Haywood “HAP” Payne along with Dr. C. Ladell Payne, former RMC President. (The men are not related.) Haywood Payne, then a transfer student from Virginia Union, was the first African-American undergraduate student to attend Randolph-Macon College. His entry marked the end of segregation at the College after 136 years.

Payne earned a degree in Chemistry in 1968 and went on to earn an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh in 1977. He joined Gulf Oil Corporation in 1970 as a systems analysis chemist and remained with the company after it merged with Chevron in 1984. Throughout his career, Payne held several management positions, and in 2010, he retired as president of Chevron Business and Real Estate Services.

Payne has consistently and fervently served and supported his alma mater, serving on the Board of Trustees from 1988-1999 and again from 2011-2016. He also served on RMC’s Society of Alumni from 2008-2009, and is a member of the College’s Heritage Society and Presidents Society. In 2011, Payne was awarded the Society of Alumni Distinguished Service Award, and in 2016, he served as commencement speaker and received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree.

“I am honored to have my name associated with such a state-of-the-art facility,” he told Director of the Nursing Program Chair Cindy Rubenstein, and the assembled College leadership who joined his tour. “Your sense of commitment and pride in preparing students for not only the BSN degree, but also the balance of critical thinking, integrity, and values which are the hallmark of an RMC education, are palpable.”

Information on admission to the Randolph-Macon Nursing program is available here.