California Biographies Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919) History By Paul E. Vandor Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919 Notes: Missing+page1185-1186 Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm L. ROY PAYNE. � The opportunities for business growth and financial development presented by the city of Fresno have strongly appealed to the am- bitions of a few men who were destined to make their way in the business world, and who, by their strength of character and conservative judgment, have aided in building the superstructure of the commonwealth's growth and prosperity upon a secure and permanent foundation. Such a man is L. R. Payne, who has had much to do with the raisin-growing and packing industry of the San Joaquin Valley and is recognized as the pioneer member of the California Associated Raisin Company. He was born on January 31, 1876, at Clyde, Allegan County, Mich., a son of John H. and Cecelia (Askins) Payne, natives of England and Allegan County, Mich., respectively. John H. Payne came with his father to the United States, settled in Michigan, where he grew up on a farm and later engaged in the insurance business. He died in Michigan at the age of seventy-eight years. Mrs. Payne is a daughter of a Pennsylvania farmer who was a pioneer of Michi- gan. She is living in Fresno. There were four sons and one daughter in the Payne family, two sons are now deceased. Roy Payne, as he is familiarly called by his friends, spent his boyhood in Allegan County, meanwhile attending the grammar and high schools in Vicks- burg, that state. He finished his education in Kalamazoo College, graduating in 1892, after which he became a bookkeeper at Sturgis, Mich., where he remained until he accepted a position with the Producers' Fruit Company at Fresno. He remained with this concern for sometime and became familiar with the industry, then accepted a similar position with the Fresno Home Packing Company. By steady application to business he gradually worked his way to the front and soon was able to purchase an interest in the plant. This was in 1898, at which time he was elected a member of the board of directors and was made secretary. In 1902 he was elected vice-president and made outside manager, having charge of all outside packing interests. This company owned the first seeded-raisin packing plant in the San Joaquin Valley, built up a lucrative business and established several branch houses. In 1902 there was a consolidation of five independent packing houses, the concern being known as the Pacific Coast Seeded-Raisin Com- pany, and was the largest shipper of raisins in the state. The buildings erected by the company were some of the largest in the state used for that purpose and were fitted with the most modern machinery, labor-saving devices and nowhere in the world was there a more modern plant of like character. Mr. Payne devoted his entire time to the upbuilding of the company until 1913, when an organization was effected whereby this and many other packing plants in the San Joaquin Valley were taken over by the California Associated Raisin Company, and Mr. Payne assumed a very responsible position with the new concern, holding it until in February, 1919, when he was advanced to the position of operating manager. The duties of his position are educational for the grower, with whom Mr. Payne advises as to the best methods to be applied to get the best results and to stand- ardize the output of Sun-Maid Raisins. He also settles all the difficulties that arise with the growers, passes on the quality of his raisins, in fact takes the crop from the grower to the packing house. When it is taken into consideration that there are some 9,000 growers in the organization it will be seen that his position is one that require a perfect knowledge of the industry in all its branches and the ability, tact and skill to manage men. The California Associated Raisin Company is one of the largest of its kind in the world and Mr. Payne is exerting a strong influence towards making the business a success. L. R. Payne was united in marriage at Oakland, December 19, 1901, with Miss Delia M. Hodges, a native of California and the daughter of I. A. Hodges, a pioneer of Fresno County. Of this union two children have been born, Marian Frances and Dorothy. Mr. Payne was made a Mason in Fresno Lodge No. 247, F. & A. M., belongs to Trigo Chapter No. 69, R. A. M., Fresno Commandery No. 29, K. T., Fresno Lodge of Perfection, and Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is one of the honorary members of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce and was a member of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commmittee. He installed the ex- hibit for the California Associated Raisin Company at the Panama-Pacific Inter- national Exposition in San Francisco, and this exhibit took the Grand Prize. He is a member of the Sequoia, Commercial and Sunnyside Country Clubs in Fresno. All projects for the upbuilding of Fresno County have his active co-oper- ation and he is recognized as a prominent man of affairs throughout the San Joaquin Valley.