Background
Payne, Kenyon Thomas was born on January 3, 1918 in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Loyal Frederick and Mary (Cobb) Payne.
Payne, Kenyon Thomas was born on January 3, 1918 in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Son of Loyal Frederick and Mary (Cobb) Payne.
Bachelor of Science, Kansas State College, 1939; Master of Sciences, University Nebraska, 1941; Doctor of Philosophy (Conway MacMillan fellow), University of Minnesota, 1948.
Agent, United States Department of Agriculture, U. Nebraska, 1939-1941; assistant professor, Purdue University, 1948-1952; associate professor, Purdue University, 1952; professor, Michigan State University, 1952-1988; professor emeritus, Michigan State University, since 1988; chairman crop science department, Michigan State University, 1952-1968; dean, Faculty of Agriculture, U. Nigeria, Nsukka, 1964-1966; senior agricultural adviser, Brazil, 1969.
Board trustees Robert Trent Jones Foundation, Cornell University, since 1988. Vice president, secretary Executive Golf Search Inc., since 1991. Served from Second lieutenant to lieutenant colonel United States Army Air Force, 1941-1946.
Fellow American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Society Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America. Member Archeological Institute American, International Turf Grass Society, Sigma Xi, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Zeta, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Gamma Sigma Delta.
Married Jane E. Boucher, November 21, 1942. Children: Martha Joanna, William Samuel, Christopher Thomas.