KATY MAGAZINE NEWS
July 26, 2024
By Natalie Cook Clark
This Katy High School graduate’s life took a tragic turn when an accident left him a quadriplegic. He continues to overcome his challenges and is now a political science professor and now celebrating the publication of his first fiction novel.
All pictures courtesy Lee Payne
Katy residents can support and reconnect with a Katy High School graduate this weekend as he returns home to Katy to celebrate the release of his first book, ‘The Pack.’ The book is a planned series and there will be a book signing event tomorrow at Midway BBQ.
Lee Payne, Katy High School Class of 1985, hasn’t had the most conventional life after a tragic accident left him paralyzed as a quadriplegic. Payne still shows his perseverance to take on any challenge and this weekend others can meet him and be inspired to reach their own dreams no matter what life throws at you.
Book Signing Details
Midway BBQ (6025 Hwy Blvd.) is hosting a book signing for Lee Payne tomorrow, Saturday July 27, 2024 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Publishing a book isn’t Payne’s first success since tragedy changed his life.
Payne’s Life in Katy
Payne moved to Katy in 1977 and loved the area. He attended Katy Junior High before going to Katy High School where he loved FFA where he loved raising hogs. He also was part of a junior rodeo where he rode bulls as he continually sought thrills.
“We lived south of Katy in the country surrounded by rice fields,” says Payne. “I loved goose, duck, dove, and rabbit hunting. I loved the small-town atmosphere where everyone knew everyone.”
When he could drive, he bought a 1978 Silverado 4X4 pick-up.
“Me and my buddies loved going mudding after a good rain,” says Payne. “I loved the KC dances held at the VFW Hall the third Saturday of every month. I loved that I never had a key to my house because it was always unlocked. I loved the Christmas tree on top of Cardiff’s rice dryer every December.”
Payne loved Katy and though he now lives in Nacogdoches, he still loves Katy even though it is where his life changed forever.
A Lifechanging Tragedy
On Sunday, August 17, 1986, shortly after Payne turned 20, he went swimming with friends in one of the many rice wells that used to be everywhere in Katy back then.
“I dove in once, like I’d done hundreds of times before. No problem,” recalls Payne. “I dove in a second time. Big problem. The impact knocked me out. When I came to, I was floating face down in the water. I didn’t know I was injured and tried to push up with my arms. Nothing happened.”
At first, he thought he had broken his arms, so he tried to stand up, but nothing happened.
“That’s when I realized something was horribly wrong and I was out of air,” says Payne. Luckily his friends got to him and Payne was sent via Lifeflight from Katy Community Hospital to Memorial Herman Hospital.
He crushed the fourth and fifth vertebra of his cervical spine. Payne had surgery to fuse his spine and spent the next three months at The Institute for Research and Rehabilitation (TIRR).
“The injury left me a neurological incomplete C-5 quadriplegic. My hands are paralyzed, my arms are partially paralyzed, and I’m paralyzed from the armpits down.
Payne didn’t handle his injury well and spent the next three years deeply depressed. He admits to even wishing he had died in the rice well, but he found salvation in many ways.
Finding Salvation
“My English Bulldog, Tuxedo didn’t care about my wheelchair and loved me unconditionally,” says Payne.
And then he found a passion for politics during the 1988 presidential election.
“I became a C-SPAN junky and followed politics after the election,” says Payne. “I was self-taught until 1998. I was 32 when I started at Stephen F. Austin State University as a double major in Political Science and Communications.”
Payne learned that teaching was something that I could do a wheelchair and that made graduate school a nature progression.
After not being the best student at Katy High School, Payne graduated magna cum laude in May 2003 and was accepted to the PhD program at the University of Houston in the Fall of 2003.
He then received his MA in 2006 and a PhD in 2008. In the Fall of 2006, he landed an Adjunct position at SFA while writing his dissertation. Since 2021 he’s been a tenured full Professor at SFA.
In addition to his teaching success that he has found since his injury, Payne loves to write and debuted his first fiction novel ‘The Pack’ last month. This book is one in a planned trilogy and is different from his academic work in the fact that it’s a paranormal fiction.
Payne has Always Loved Horror
“I’ve always loved horror movies and books,” says Payne. “I wrote some short stories over the years but never committed to writing a novel. I wanted to, just didn’t know if I had it in me.”
His book was inspired by an experience he had when staying late one night at SFA.
“It was dark when I drove home,” says Payne. “I live out in the piny woods country off a one lane County Road. I turned a corner and saw some critter’s eye shine in the road ahead. By the time I got home, I had the first chapter in my mind.”
During the summer of 2016 he taught two online classes and took that time to start writing. It took him through summer of 2017 complete it and the rest is history.
Payne hopes that others struggling through hard times will hear his story and feel that they too can do anything through hard work and determination.
“My advice is to find that one thing that gives you hope and cling to it,” says Payne. “Draw from it! Nurture it!”
Learn more about Lee Payne (writing as Lee W. Payne) and his book seriesherewhere it’s available in paperback and digital.
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It's truly inspiring to see a quadriplegic author from Katy sharing their story and having a book signing event at Midway BBQ. Events like these highlight the incredible resilience and creativity of individuals who overcome significant challenges to achieve their dreams. If you're planning to attend, it's a great opportunity to support local authors and learn from their experiences. For those writing about such impactful stories or looking for help with crafting thoughtful essays, https://www.nursingpaper.com/ offers expert writing assistance. Additionally, consider how sharing stories of perseverance can inspire others to face their challenges, encouraging them to pursue their goals despite the odds.
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