Former Port Huron High School Band Director Dies

By Kathleen Knowles

Port Huron High School lost a legend on February 19th. Eric E. Payton, band director at Port Huron High School from 1967 to 1983 passed away at the age of 93. 

Mr. Payton was born February 6, 1929, in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada to Salvation Army officers Herbert and Ivy Payton. He was one of nine siblings. 

After graduating from Port Huron High School in 1946, he enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he auditioned and played in the Air force until being discharged.

He attended Port Huron Junior College and later received a master’s degree from Wayne State University in 1957. Mr. Payton began his teaching career in Port Huron, teaching at Grant, Garfield, and Jefferson schools. He went on to become the band director at Washington Intermediate School. After teaching there for 10 years, he moved to Port Huron High School, where his real impact was felt. He built and molded the Big Red Band into the Pride of Port Huron. 

At the Toronto Jazz Band festival, his Royal Reds Jazz Band won the best band. They traveled and toured throughout England, Scotland, and Wales. 

As if the success of the Royal Reds wasn’t enough, it was the marching band that would become his legacy. He renamed the band the Port Huron High School Big Red Marching Machine and turned it into one well-oiled machine. 

The band racked up one success after another. Under his direction, the marching Machine won the best band in the Detroit Thanksgiving Day Parade three times. They also took top prize in Kitchener, Ontario, and several times in the Sarnia Christmas Parade. Their successes led to an invitation to compete in the Olympic Marching Band Competition in Munich Germany. Through the sheer force of his personality and drive, Mr. Payton was able to unite the entire community behind the band to raise over $150,000 (equivalent to $1,008,904.31 today) to send the band to Europe. Nearly one year was spent raising money throughout the community before the Big Reds put on their farewell performance at Memorial Stadium, which had to be performed twice in order to accommodate the 10,000 people who showed up to see it. Touring the Netherlands and Germany, the band performed several concerts and marched in several parades. Although they were awarded second place of 15 bands in the competition, it was discovered after the awards ceremony that a required maneuver (marching down the field in block style formation) was missed by one of the judges who were still marking his scorecard for the previous band. Since the two bands had tied, the Big Reds would have taken the top prize had the judge not marked the band down for that maneuver. 

Mr. Payton also took the Big Reds to Nashville Tennessee, Green Bay Wisconsin, Niagara Falls, and Disney World, where they won the Heart of St. Petersburg Award. The Marching Machine also traveled to Toronto, Ottawa, and New York City. 

One might think his greatest impact was the numerous awards and honors bestowed on the Marching Machine over the years, but it is not really where his biggest impact was felt. Mr. Payton truly loved and cared about his students. Upon hearing about his passing, former students, friends, and family voiced their love and respect for the man. 

Deb Hutchinson: 

I have wonderful memories of my high school years with Mr. Payton. He was a powerful trumpet player and an engaging man for all his students to be inspired. He brought us discipline, laughter, pride, and great jazz and music. His family has been blessed with a wonderful father and an example for others to follow. Rest in peace, Mr. Payton, and know that your life on earth was inspiring and valued by many. I will never forget your warmth, loving guidance, and smile! 

Jane Kelley Warsinske: 

From grade school and throughout college, I have been lucky enough to have some very good teachers and professors. But no one was more influential than Mr. Payton. I cannot imagine high school without him. If you were lucky enough to go to Port Huron High School, you were never considered a Band geek if you were part of the Big Red Marching Machine. You were in fact a very proud member of the band. Rich, Jeff, Barb, and Matt, thank you for sharing your wonderful father with so many of us. 

Pearl Swanson: 

I had him in band 6th through 12th grade. Thank you, Rich, Jeff, Barb, and Matt, for sharing him with us all those years. He had a great impact on my life. 

Lainie Larson: 

He was “most favorite teacher” to so many. Mind-boggling. On the worst day of my high school life, Mr. Payton was the one who counseled me to tell me that life would go on, and my friends would stick with me if they were true friends. I’ll never forget that mini session . . . he was the one I went to in my roughest of days.

Mary Jane “Bert” Adams: 

To Rich, Jeff, Barb, Matt, and all the Paytons, I send my prayers and love. Yes indeed, he is promoted to Glory as he should be! His love of life and helping others gave so many a chance to be part of something bigger than we were each on our own. A Big Red Marching Machine. I treasure every memory and hold in my heart the lessons learned and convictions to follow his example. I love you, Eric, and give thanks to God that I have a friend like you. 

Marnie Eaton: 

Thank you, Mr. Payton, for your nurturing ways, for your ability to spot and foster talent, and for your ability to shine a light in a child who may be a little broken, a little different. You are a constant reminder that in a hard world, you can cultivate talent, leadership, and dedication-through kind words and a love for music. Thank you for sharing a piece of yourself with each of us. 

Ted Nurnberg: 

What a man, what a great spirit! He is loved and will be missed! 

Dawn Renaker Cooper: 

He will be missed! A legend went to heaven! 

Barry Bolt: 

He will be missed, but his musical energy will live on in the hearts of all his students and everyone who knew him.

Mary Alice Cooper: 

Mr. Payton changed the world for so many Port Huron High School students. He gave me a sense of belonging all the way to Munich and beyond. Be at peace. 

Kathleen Knowles:

His impact on the people he touched cannot be measured. He was loved and revered. A true Port Huron legend, and a man who will never be forgotten as long as there is a breath left in all who knew him. 

As his niece, Beth Petrie so eloquently put it, the Leader of the the Band has laid down his baton one final time. Rest in peace, Mr. Eric Payton. You have earned your way into heaven. 

Blue Water Healthy Living offers its condolences to

Rich, Jeff, Barb, and Matt Payton on the loss of their father.