Richard “Bubba” Payton was born in Little Rock on July 26, 1945, to Joe and Susie Payton. He and his brother Ronnie were raised in a family that loved sports. In fact his mother Susie was inducted into the State Women’s Bowling Hall of Fame. Bubba grew up an overachiever and an all-around outstanding young man as evidenced by the fact that he was recognized as National Boys Club Boy of the Year runner up in 1959. He graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1963 and from Arkansas Tech with his Bachelors of Education in 1967. Osceola was his first coaching stop out of Tech where he took over the reins as junior high basketball coach and assistant in football. From there he moved on to Manila to serve in the same capacities and to add golf and track to his resume. While at Manila he won his first state championship in the sport of golf. It was in 1973 that he became Manila’s head senior high basketball coach. His success that year prompted his fellow league coaches to nominate him as an All-Star coach from their district. In 1976 Bubba moved back to Hot Springs to stay, first as the head junior high basketball coach, high school golf coach and assistant high school football coach at Lakeside. That school year he not only won the conference junior high basketball championship, but he also added his 2nd state championship in Golf. He moved over to Lake Hamilton in 1978 to become the head high school basketball coach and to continue coaching golf and football. Bubba added tennis to his coaching duties from 1980 until 1985 when he was named Lake Hamilton’s Athletic Director. It is obvious that Athletic Directing was Bubba’s calling when you look at the tremendous accomplishments of his program during his 22 year tenure. Over that period Lake Hamilton won 3 All-Sports State Championships, 18 State Championships and had 24 State runners-up. He built new facilities for softball and baseball, put in the state’s first Mondo track and resurfaced the football field. Bubba was responsible for the innovative idea of using Oaklawn Park as the setting for the state cross country championships. Among Bubba’s significant contributions to the profession of Athletic Administration are his service as the secretary, vice-president and president of the AHSAAA from 1986 to 1993, and his work as hospitality chair from 1996 to 2007. He also represented Arkansas as a delegate to the NIAAA National Convention in 1992 and 1993 and served as moderator at the NIAAA National Conference in 2004. For his service Bubba has received the State
4 Award of Merit and was selected the Arkansas Athletic Director of the Year in 2003-2004. Bubba’s wife is Patty. They have a son, Brandon and two daughters, Tracey Halligan and Lisa Conly. Patty and Bubba are proud grandparents to Meagan and Shea Halligan, Skyler Hebert and Stormie Smith. In his retirement Bubba continues to enjoy his family, his church and his community.