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2011 Honored Alumnus

Donna Payne-Class of 1943

by Randy Nelson on August 11, 2011

THE ALUMNI COMMITTEE PRESENTS THE “HONORED ALUMNI AWARD” TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR COMMUNITY, SCHOOL, AND SOCIETY.

THIS YEARS’S RECIPIENT GRADUATED FROM ELGIN HIGH SCHOOL IN 1943.

UPON GRADUATION FROM HIGH SCHOOL, SHE WORKED 12 YEARS AS AN APPRENTICE LINETYPE OPERATOR FOR THE ORCHARD NEWS. SHE WORKED FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AT THE O’NEILL FRONTIER NEWSPAPER BEFORE JOINING THE ANTELOPE COUNTY TREASURERS OFFICE IN 1958. SHE WAS ELECTED TO THE POSITION OF COUNTY TREASURER AND TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY 1967, SHE HELD THIS OFFICE FOR 28 YEARS.

SHE WAS GIVEN THE HONOR TO BE CHOSEN AN ADMIRAL IN THE NEBRASKA NAVY BY THEN GOVENOR KAY ORR. THIS AWARD IS GIVEN TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED IN SOME WAY TO THE STATE OR HAVE PROMOTED THE GOOD LIFE IN NEBRASKA, WHICH SHE DID BY SHOWING COMPASSION FOR HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS RESIDED IN NELIGH SINCE 1960, SHE STILL KEEPS ELGIN CLOSE TO HER HEART. AND SHE PROBABLY HAS ATTENDED NEARLY EVERY ALUMNI BANQUET OVER THE YEARS.

AS A YOUNG CHILD, SHE BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ELGIN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. HER NEPHEW, RAY, IS A 4TH GENERATION FARMER OF THE LAND OWNED BY HER FAMILY. AT THE PRESENT TIME, SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE ELGIN CEMETERY ASSOCIATION. IN ADDITION, SHE HAS MANY VARIED INTERESTS.

OUR COMMITTEE IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE 2011 ELGIN HIGH SCHOOL HONORED ALUMNI AWARD TO:

 

DONNA PAYNE

CLASS OF 1943