Coy Payne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Coy Payne
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| Mayor of Chandler | |
| In office 1990–1994 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Dugan |
| Succeeded by | Jay Tibshraeny |
| Chandler City Council | |
| In office 1983–1990 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | May 22, 1929 Sulphur Springs, Texas |
| Died | December 8, 2019 (age 90) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | B.A. Arizona State University |
Coy Payne (born May 22, 1929 – died December 8, 2019) was an American politician. He made history by becoming the first African-American mayor of Chandler, Arizona. Before serving as mayor, he was a member of the Chandler City Council from 1983 to 1990.
Coy Payne's Early Life and Education
Coy Payne was born in Sulphur Springs, Texas. He was one of nine children in his family. In the early 1940s, his family moved to Eloy, Arizona. As a young person, he worked hard picking cotton to help his family buy a car.
Later, his family moved north to Chandler. At that time, there were no schools in Chandler for Black students. This meant Coy had to go to school in Mesa, Arizona. He was not allowed into the local high school in Chandler. Instead, he attended Carver High School in Phoenix, Arizona, which was an all-Black school.
He briefly attended Arizona State University before joining the U.S. Army. He bravely served in the Korean War. After leaving the army, he finished his education at Arizona State University. He then became a third-grade teacher in Chandler and taught until he retired in 1989.
Becoming a Leader in Chandler
In 1983, Coy Payne was elected to the Chandler City Council. He was the first African-American person to serve on the council. This was a big step for the community.
In 1990, he ran for mayor of Chandler. He won the election against Jane DuComb by a large number of votes. This victory made him the first African-American mayor of any city in Arizona. This was especially notable because at that time, only about 3% of Chandler's population was African-American. His predecessor as mayor was Richard Dugan.
As mayor, Coy Payne led Chandler during a time of fast growth. The city grew by 96 percent between 1990 and 2000! He also helped create the city's housing authority. This group helps people find affordable homes. He also oversaw the growth of parks and recreation programs, giving more fun activities to the community.
Coy Payne's Family Life
Coy Payne was married to Willie Woods. She was an accountant and also worked to support civil rights. Together, they had six children. Coy Payne passed away on December 8, 2019, at the age of 90.
