William Porter Payne
| Billy Payne | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club | |
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Assumed office May 5, 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Hootie Johnson |
| President and Chief executive officer of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games | |
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In office August 9, 1992 – August 4, 1996 |
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| IOC President | Juan Antonio Samaranch |
| Preceded by | Pasqual Maragall |
| Succeeded by | Michael Knight |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 13, 1947 |
| Alma mater | University of Georgia (BA, JD) |
William Porter "Billy" Payne (born October 13, 1947) is the former chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, having served in that position from 2006 to 2017 and oversaw the introduction of the first women to the club's membership rolls. He is also a Chairman of Centennial Holding Company, an Atlanta-based real estate investment concern. Through the late 1980s and early 1990s he was a leading advocate for bringing the Olympic Games to Atlanta and, in 1996, Payne was named president and chief executive officer of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG).
Born in Athens, Georgia, Payne received his Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) with honors in political science in 1969 from the University of Georgia as well as his law degree (J.D.) from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1973. While at the University, he was initiated into the Gridiron Secret Society and the Georgia Alpha Chapter of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He received an honorary degree Doctor of Laws from Oglethorpe University in 1991.
Payne played football for the University of Georgia, graduating in 1969.
Payne first had the idea of Atlanta hosting the Olympic Games in 1987 and began to bring others to support this vision. He first gained support of Atlanta leaders for this effort, including then-mayor Andrew Young, an ally who helped Payne convince International Olympic Committee members to award Atlanta the games. Payne's plan for the games depended heavily on private support, leading him to convince sponsors to back the games. In September 1990, Atlanta was selected by the IOC to host the 1996 Games, surprising many.
After winning the bid, Payne remained as the head of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, serving as the chief administrator to organize the Olympics. He was the first person to lead the bid effort and then remain to lead the Games.
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