Oklahoma Station Owner Bill Payne Dead At 76

Payne

Condolences to family and friends of former OKLAHOMA radio station owner BILL PAYNE, who died FRIDAY in TULSA at 76. His life and career was chronicled in this WEEKEND's MUSKOGEE CHRONICLE.

PAYNE owned several stations in OKLAHOMA, starting with KWHP-F/EDMOND, OK, and hosted a daily show on Country KTFX (OKIE COUNTRY 101.7)/MUSKOGEE.  He was one of three generations of PAYNE family members in radio ownership; his father owned KWHP-A/CUSHING, OK (on which BILL began hosting at age 12), and his son and family continue to own stations in eastern OKLAHOMA. PAYNE was the founder of PAYNE RADIO GROUP and is a member of the COUNTRY RADIO HALL OF FAME Class Of 2011 (NET NEWS 11/1/2010).

PAYNE is survived by his wife of 55 years, GAIL (NET NEWS 7/12/2010); son WILL and wife BRANDI PAYNE; daughters ANNE MCGARRY and husband SCOTT, KELLY PAYNE, and HAYDON ISHMAEL and husband TODD; along with elevent grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. A memorial services is scheduled for TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1sr at ST. STEPHEN'S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH in BROKEN ARROW, OK.

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