JAMES E. PAYNE

James E. Payne was appointed Deputy Law Director for the City of Akron in December of 1987. Before his appointment, he was an assistant law director and an assistant city prosecutor.

Mr. Payne was born in Cleveland, Ohio, is a graduate of Glenville High and received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Cleveland State University. He later attended The University of Akron where he received his Juris Doctor degree. Mr. Payne is also a United States Army veteran.

Mr. Payne and his wife Margaret moved permanently to Akron in 1985 after his appointment as Assistant Prosecutor for the City of Akron Law Department. He has also worked in legal capacities for the Cleveland Trust Company, Ford Motor Company and Western Reserve Legal Services.

Mr. Payne is a past president of the Akron Bar Association, a member of the Akron Barristers Association and is a Life Member of the Akron Branch NAACP and the University Of Akron School Of Law Alumni Association.

He has received awards from the Akron Urban League, the Black Law Students Association of The University of Akron School of Law, the Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award, for Distinguished Service in the Field of Law and the Akron Bar Association, Meritorious Service Award.

James E. Payne retired from the Mayor’s Cabinet in 2007 and passed away at the age of 66, February 19, 2011.

JAMES E. PAYNE, FORMER CITY OF AKRON
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF LAW