Grandfather Claus
Sonya Cisneros
Issue date: 4/25/07 Section: News
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"It's been so good that TCU has let me hang on this long," he said.
Though Payne has two sons, he said the women at TCU have been like daughters to him throughout his work in the female residence halls.
He said he served as the "out-of-town father" for the Delta Gamma sorority in the '60s, attending formals when fathers couldn't.
He also gave a student away at her wedding.
No matter what he's doing, be it a big or small thing, he does it with the same heart, Norman said.
"TCU is his whole life," she said.
Payne, who also serves as TCU's Santa Claus, said he feels that the students like having a grandfather-figure.
"It's like taking vitamins every day when you get out here," Payne said. "You just pep yourself up by being here."
Payne proudly displayed multiple photographs of students he's met throughout the years, one of which was Miss Texas 2000, Tara Watson.
Norman, once one of those students, said meeting Payne "had quite a profound effect" on her life.
Since TCU is their whole life, Mildred Payne said, the couple hasn't missed a TCU graduation since 1968.
Payne said TCU keeps them young.
"How fortunate and lucky can I get?" he said.
Though Payne has two sons, he said the women at TCU have been like daughters to him throughout his work in the female residence halls.
He said he served as the "out-of-town father" for the Delta Gamma sorority in the '60s, attending formals when fathers couldn't.
He also gave a student away at her wedding.
No matter what he's doing, be it a big or small thing, he does it with the same heart, Norman said.
"TCU is his whole life," she said.
Payne, who also serves as TCU's Santa Claus, said he feels that the students like having a grandfather-figure.
"It's like taking vitamins every day when you get out here," Payne said. "You just pep yourself up by being here."
Payne proudly displayed multiple photographs of students he's met throughout the years, one of which was Miss Texas 2000, Tara Watson.
Norman, once one of those students, said meeting Payne "had quite a profound effect" on her life.
Since TCU is their whole life, Mildred Payne said, the couple hasn't missed a TCU graduation since 1968.
Payne said TCU keeps them young.
"How fortunate and lucky can I get?" he said.
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