Aquinas College

James Payne was a local legend on the Grand Rapids tennis scene during the late 1960's and early 1970's. An outstanding high school performer at Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Payne was twice the City League singles champion, a Class A regional high school champion, and a qualifier for the MHSAA state tournament. "[Jim is] the most natural park player I ever saw." Roy White, Jim's Aquinas College tennis coach said. "He could play great tennis with any racquet, on any surface, in any weather conditions, and he would win." Although Jim was linked to Aquinas College tennis through his older brother Bob, also an Aquinas tennis player, and his father Ed, who coached the team at Aquinas for a few years. It was was Jim's heroics as a member of the Aquinas tennis team that sets him apart from all who have followed him. Jim completed the 1975 regular season with an undefeated regular season record, playing against many of the state's larger schools. He then went on to win the NAIA state tournament in singles, with an unblemished record. It wasn't until the second round of the NAIA national tournament that Jim was defeated (by the eventual national champion). This is an accomplishment that hasn't been matched since. Many of Jim's peers describe him as the best to ever play at Aquinas College. Jim and his wife, Linda, have two children, Ryan and Kelly, and reside in EGR.