1. William Porter Payne was born on October 13,1947 and is an American lawyer and businessman who served as the former chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, having served in that position from 2006 to 2017 and overseeing the introduction of the first women to the club's membership rolls.
Billy Payne is chairman of Centennial Holding Company, an Atlanta-based real estate investment concern.
Billy Payne received an honorary degree Doctor of Laws from Oglethorpe University in 1991.
Billy Payne first had the idea of Atlanta hosting the Olympic Games in 1987 and began to bring others to support this vision.
Billy Payne was the first person to lead the bid effort and then remain to lead the Games.
On May 5,2006, Billy Payne was announced as the replacement for Hootie Johnson as chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament, with Payne taking office with the opening of the club's season that October.
At the 2012 Masters Tournament, the public was reminded that some traditions at Augusta National Golf Club still hold true to form as Billy Payne sideswiped reporters' questions about any prospect of allowing a woman to join ANGC.
However, on August 20,2012, Billy Payne announced that former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice and business executive Darla Moore would be the first female members of the club after 75 years of all male membership.
Billy Payne received the Olympic Order in Gold at the Closing Ceremonies of the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.
Billy Payne was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame, class of 2019, in the lifetime achievement category.