William J. (Jack) Payne joined the UGA faculty in 1955 and was head of the Microbiology Department from 1968 until 1977, when he was named acting Dean of the Arts and Sciences College. Payne became permanent dean in 1978 and held that position for the next 10 years. While serving as dean, he was named Alumni Foundation Distinguished Professor of Microbiology. After stepping down Payne returned to the microbiology department until his retirement in 1993. As dean, Payne helped start the Sandy Beaver teaching professorships and teaching awards and created an academic advising program for general studies students. A strong supporter of the arts he helped establish the Franklin College Chamber Music Series to offer free concerts to the community.
An authority in the field of Denitrification, Payne is credited with developing advances in assaying the activities of enzymes that play a key role in forms of nitrogen found in nature. He was also known for his research on how sulfatase enzymes contribute to the microbial degradation of pollution. Payne was the author of more than 120 scientific papers and four books, including Denitrification; published in 1981 and considered the definitive work in the field. Additionally he was active in the Athens community serving on the board of the Athens Symphony, as a volunteer for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic and as a member of the Athens City Club and Athens Torch Club.
Excerpted from an obituary written for Columns by Larry B. Dendy.
The William "Jack" Payne Papers covers the dates 1950 through 2004 with an emphasis on Payne's work with the UGA Microbiology Department. Reprints of Payne's writings are found in this collection along with material relating to the research and writing of the manuscript "Pasteur, Gayon and Dupetit and the Closure of Reiset's Nitrogen Cycle." Also in the collection are Payne's Department of Microbiology scrapbooks for the years 1953 through 2003.
In addition, the collection includes correspondence with colleagues around the world along with numerous photographs and slides. Also included are lecture and conference notes along with documentation of the department's close association with University College in Cardiff, UK.
Related materials in this repository: W. Jack Payne collection of Jenkins Club papers, UA04-035; H. Branch Howe, Jr. papers, UA0154; and Joel Giddens papers, UA0147.
