The day was 22 Aug. 1903 when Earl Davis Payne was born in Perry , Ohio. This was only a little more than 3 months before Orville and Wilbur Wright 1st flew their heavier than air Wright flyer @ Kittyhawk , North Carolina , Dec. 1903. Earl ' s father B.H. Payne was a Baptist minister and his mother was a certified school teacher.

Earl went to high school in northern Kentucky and Cincinnati , Ohio , graduating from Woodward High School. He was active with electronics his senior year of high school. The Woodward HS yearbook called Earl , " a second Tesla. " After high school Earl majored in electrical engineering @ the University of Cincinnati, OH. This was a five year co - op degree @ UC 1921 - 1926. After completing his electrical engineering courses in 1926 he worked for the Cincinnati Gas & Electric Co., CG&E for almost 14 years before volunteering to go on active duty as an Ordnance officer.

Earl was intrigued by airplanes and flying. Joyce, my older sister, remembers well going to air races ( likely Cleveland , Ohio ) with Dad. I have wonderful photos he took of these very early single engine racing aircraft. Earl was trained in the Army Reserves in aerial photography. He learned to fly and successfully flew the U.S. Army trainer , a Stearman bi - plane. The above photo shows Earl in a flight suit standing by the Stearman plane. His good friend Al Wunder was in the front seat.

Earl married Eleanor Nunn 10 April 1926. They were very happily married. Eleanor gave birth to Joyce in May 1927, Earl jr. in June 1931 , and Robert B. Payne in Sept. 1943.

He left the CG&E company Oct. 1940 to go on active duty as an Ordnance officer. He was stationed most of his career @ the Pentagon during and after WW II. He was assigned to the 229th Ordnance Depot in Yokohama , Japan Feb. 1947 to July 1948. He returned to the U.S. in July to attend the Army War College, The Industrial College of the Armed Forces. After completing this school he returned to the Pentagon as a liaison officer for the Munitions Board 1949 - 1951. He traveled often , coordinating between civilian contractors and the Department of Defense. Earl quickly rose in rank from Capt. to Colonel by July 1950.

Clearly a patriot who loved America not only as an active duty officer , but also as a Army Reserve officer for 14 years prior to going on active duty.

Earl loved electrical engineering. His most well known project was being one of the three electrical / illumination engineers with the CG&E Co. who designed the lighting layout for the 1st ever Major League Baseball ball fields to have lights. The 1st night game in MLB was @ Crosley Field in Cincinnati , OH on 24 May 1935. 20,422 people attended this game on a very cool night. This was the beginning of a new era in the Major Leagues.

Three men , all patriots who loved their country, Col. Earl D. Payne, Sr., Capt. Earl D. Payne, jr. & Maj. Robert B. Payne, who also loved aviation and flying. Most of all they loved their families and provided for their families while serving their country.

The Best , notes by Robert B. Payne