Crillon Payne died Saturday, August 29, 2009 at the age of  90. He was born April 27, 1919 at Spanish Fort Texas, Montague County, to Arthur A. Payne and Ethel Wood Payne. He was reared in Paducah, Texas.

After graduation from Paducah High School, he attended Jr. College in Arlington for two years, and was then awarded a football and track scholarship to North Texas State Collage now the University of  North Texas. During his two years there, he was a member of those teams, and was honored to serve as captain of the track team his senior year. Following graduation in 1940, he entered into the teaching and coaching profession at Henrietta, Texas and later at North Dallas High School.

He married Kate Evers May 24, 1941 and a son, Cril, was born May 28, 1943. His wife preceded him in death in 1984, and his son died in 2006.

In March 1942, he volunteered for Navy duty. After serving at several Naval Stations, he was assigned sea duty in the south Pacific as a Boat Group Commander of the Amphibious Landing Boats aboard the USS Hamblen. He was discharged from the Navy in 1946 with the rank of Lt. Commander.

In 1950, after four years of employment with the Veterans Administration, he returned to teaching and coaching with the Denton School District. In January 1956, the Board of Trustees created the position of Assistant Superintendent for Business Affairs. He served in that office for 26 years until his retirement in 1981. During his tenure there, he was closely involved with the architects and contractors in the construction and the purchasing of equipment for Denton High, Strickland, Rayzor, Wilson, Ginnings, Borman, Lee and several additions. He served those years under Superintendents Chester Strickland, James Benjamin and Robert McGee.

Crillon was a long time member of the First Baptist Church, the Texas Association of School Business Officials, the Denton Country Club, Mason Stanfield Lodge 217, Scottish Rite, Dallas, and served as President of the Denton Kiwanis Club in 1964.

A memorial service at the First Baptist Church in Denton will be held on Thursday  September 3, 2009 at 1:00 pm. Visitation will be Wednesday September 2, 2009 from 6 to 8 pm at Mulkey- Mason Funeral Home in Denton.