Richard Payton Jr. was not only a man with an impressive military, police, and private eye career.
He was man who was loved and admired by everyone around him, and that won’t change after he passed away this week.
In the early 1970s, Payton started his career at the State College police department. According to police chief Tom King, Payton was the first black officer in State College.
After about 14 years at the department, Payton decided to leave and start his career in private investigation and eventually started his own business doing security work.
During his time at the State College Police Department, Payton’s investigative skills shined, leading to the police chief at the time to assign him to be one of only four members of the detective section.
“Payton was a very good police officer for the community and was extremely well-known around town,” King said. “He was known by the young and the old, students and not students and the business community.”
Having met in 1985 at Penn State through basketball, Brian Allen looked up to Payton as the older brother he never had.
“Rick was a mentor and older brother to me and always had good advice for me to learn from,” Allen said. “He knew everyone around town, he was my go to guy for everything.”
Payton not only made a lasting impression on Allen, but also the community as a whole. Payton was known and loved by everyone in town. Allen described Payton as a man who lived a very colorful life and has left his mark on everybody he was surrounded by.
“It’s devastating to have lost Rick, but with his loss I keep all my memories with him,” Allen said. “Every memory I have with him is a good one and I will always hold on to everything he has taught me and all the times he has watched my back.”
Both King and Allen noted Payton’s immaculate dressing, saying he was always dressed dapper and carried himself very well.
For these two friends as well as the State College community, Payton will always be remembered as a role model who left his mark on the borough.
A viewing will be held on Friday, Nov. 6, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Koch Funeral Home, located at 2401 S. Atherton St. in State College.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 1 p.m. at the Unity Church of Jesus Christ, located at 140 N. Gill St. in State College.
