H.E. “Buddy” Payne was born in Beaumont, TX, June 23, 1945, the son of Harry and Kay Payne. He and his wife Marilyn (Geer) have four children: Valerie (Garth), Amy (Eskut), Jeannie (Chandler), and Benjamin Payne, and 16 grandchildren.

Dr. Payne received his formal education at Florida College (A.A. in 1965); Florida State University (B.S. in Chemistry Education in 1967); Harvard University (M.A.T. in Science Education in 1968); and the University of South Florida (Ph.D. in Mathematics Education in 1983).

Buddy joined the Florida College faculty in 1972 where he taught chemistry and mathematics and later worked as Registrar, Dean of Students, and Vice President and Academic Dean. From 2009-2022, he served as the fifth president of Florida College. Upon his retirement, he was appointed Chancellor of the College.

Brother Payne has labored as an evangelist for churches in St. Petersburg, Cortez, Tampa and Lutz, Florida. He has conducted numerous gospel meetings for churches around the country and has done foreign evangelistic work in Romania. He currently serves as an elder for the Livingston Avenue church in Lutz.

Buddy Payne has devoted much time to studying and lecturing on the creation/evolution controversy over the last sixty years. He has demonstrated a refreshing ability to defend the faith as a humble servant of Jesus Christ.  We welcome him back to Southside this year to preach on the grand theme: “Lord, I Believe!”