James E. Payne Jr., MD

James E. Payne, Jr., MD, Col USAF MC Ret was born February 15, 1935 in Big Spring, Texas, and died March 17, 2017 in San Antonio after a short illness. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Linden M. Payne; his parents, James E. and Bessie A. Payne of Odessa, Texas; sister, Dorothy L. Yates of Midland, Texas; and daughter Galyn J. Harvey, of Gulfport, Mississippi.

Doctor Payne’s family moved to Midland, Texas in 1940, and to Odessa in 1941, where he attended secondary schools and graduated from Odessa High School in 1952. A promising athlete, he attended Southern Methodist University on a baseball scholarship and was chosen All-Conference in the old Southwest Conference for two years. He declined several major-league contract offers, opting to study medicine in lieu of a career in professional baseball. After being accepted to attend Tulane University School of Medicine he matriculated in 1957 and graduated in 1961 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

Doctor Payne then continued his medical training as an intern and general surgery resident as an Air Force medical officer at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio. After completing his surgery training, his first assignment as a surgeon was at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. There, he successfully passed his surgery specialty boards and was inducted as a Fellow, American College of Surgeons. After a three-year tour in Alaska and another year at March AFB, California, Doctor Payne left active Air Force service and accepted a position with the Kaweah Medical Group in Visalia, California. After five years in private practice, Doctor Payne re-entered the Air Force and was assigned to Malcolm Grow USAF Medical Center, Andrews AFB, Maryland, near Washington, DC, as Chief, General Surgery Service. While at Andrews, Doctor Payne was chosen to be a surgeon member of NASA’s astronaut Launch Site Recovery Team for Apollo 13, 14, and 15. He was also selected as the flight surgeon for Speckled Trout, the travel team of the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. Academically, he was appointed as Associate Professor of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS) medical school.

In 1978 Doctor Payne was assigned to Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center as Chairman of the Department of Surgery, and program Director for the general surgery residency training program. During this assignment, he was appointed Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio (UTHSC), General Surgery Consultant to the Air Force Surgeon General, and coordinator of the Air Force Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) world-wide training program.

In 1983 Doctor Payne was assigned to Scott AFB, Illinois as Deputy Commander of Scott USAF Medical Center. During that assignment, he was able to continue his academic surgery interest and was appointed Instructor of Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

From 1984 to 1987 Doctor Payne was Commander, Keesler USAF Medical Center at Keesler AFB, Mississippi. His final Air Force active duty assignment was Surgeon General, USAF Military Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas.

After retirement in 1988 as a colonel with 25 years active duty Doctor Payne accepted the position of Medical Director of the Texas Rehabilitation Commission in Austin, where he was responsible for all medical activities of the commission, and those of the six regional offices throughout the state. He continued in this position until his retirement in 1995, following the death of his first wife.

Doctor Payne and his wife Lynne were avid golfers, enjoyed traveling around the world, visiting family and friends, and dividing their time between their homes in Florida, Arkansas and Texas.

Payne is survived by his wife of 18 years, Lynne B Payne, of San Antonio; daughters Valerie L Lemings (and husband Dave) of Scotts Mills, Oregon, and Paula H. Morgan (and husband Henry) of Flowood, Mississippi; and sons Frank A. Payne (and wife Lori) of Maple Hill, Kansas, James M. Payne (and wife Carole Anne) of San Antonio, Texas, and James P. Harvey (and wife Stephanie) of Las Vegas, Nevada; and 18 grandchildren.

Doctor Payne will be laid to rest at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at a private family service on April 10, 2017 with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Memory & Hospice Care at Blue Skies of Texas, the Air Force Villages Charitable Foundation, or a charity of preference.

Arrangements under the direction of NEPTUNE SOCIETY - San Antonio, San Antonio, TX.