Coy Payne, 1990

Arizona’s first Black mayor, Coy Payne served two terms as Mayor of Chandler from 1990 to 1994

Born in Texas, Coy Payne came to Chandler with his family in the 1940s and settled first in Ocotillo and then in the Southside of Chandler. Coy worked picking cotton, delivering newspapers, and other jobs to make money. He attended the segregated Goodyear School in Chandler, then Carver High School in Phoenix. Coy attended Arizona State University, graduating with his teaching licensure.

Payne spent 30 years working in Chandler schools as a teacher and vice-principal. He taught at Winn School, Denver School (now San Marcos Elementary), and Chandler Junior High School. He became assistant principal at Chandler Junior High and retired after fifteen years in that role. Payne also served on the Human Relations Commission.

Frustrated with the lack of opportunities for African Americans in Chandler, Payne ran for public office, and became the state's first African American mayor, serving two terms from 1990 to 1994. Payne Junior High School, in southeast Chandler Unified School district is named after him.