H.M. Payne and Floy Murphy Payne Endowed Scholarship

The H.M. Payne and Floy Murphy Payne Endowed Scholarship was established by Floy Murphy Payne of Houston, Texas, and Howard and Diane Payne of Spring, Texas. Herman Mason (Humpy) Payne attended Austin College in Sherman, Texas on an athletic scholarship. He earned a B.S. degree before advancing to a medical degree. The Great Depression hit in 1929 and he was unable to complete his medical degree. Mr. Payne went to work for Humble Oil and Refinery, later named Exxon. He was the 129th Registered Engineer in Texas. He later married Floy Murphy and had three children, all of whom graduated from Sam Houston State Teachers College in the 1960s. It is the Donors’ intention for the endowment to generate funds to help defray expenses for golf tournaments sponsored by Sam Houston State University, and to assist with expenses for Sam Houston students to participate in golf tournaments at other locations. Any excess funding available after the above intentions have been fulfilled may be used for golf scholarships, a minimum of $1,000 each to be announced in the spring and disbursed the following academic year, half in the fall and the remaining half in the spring semester. The expendable amount shall not exceed 80% of the earnings of the endowment. This scholarship was established to assist with education expenses.