Name: Paul Payne
Spouse: Brenda Payne
Occupation: Vice President, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management
Alma Mater: UTC ('83)
Mocs Club Member Since: 2016

What inspires you to give to the Mocs Club? 
I grew up in Chattanooga and my family had season tickets to Mocs basketball throughout my childhood starting in 1973.  After 32 years in Montgomery, Alabama, we moved back to Chattanooga six years ago. Being able to return to my roots in supporting UTC athletics was meaningful on many levels, giving back to a program that meant so much to me during my formative years. 

If you could have dinner with one Moc student-athlete or coach from the past or present who would it be and why? 
Harold Wilkes. During my childhood he was football coach and athletic director at UTC, and we were neighbors in East Brainerd. I spent plenty of time at the Wilkes home and he became a second father to me. I was able to visit with him when I moved back to Chattanooga prior to his death, but wish I could have spent more time thanking him for the influence he had on my life. 

If you could give a current student-athlete one piece of advice, what would it be?
Seek your identity through your character, not your achievements. It is easy to place value on one's accomplishments, but investing in one's reputation and serving others will never fail to produce great fruit. The years in college pass far too quickly, and laying the foundation of servant leadership will develop a pathway to success throughout life. 

If you were speaking to other alumni or Chattanooga community members, what would you say to encourage them to join the Mocs Club? 
There are many worthy causes in our community to support, but supporting the Mocs Club has many benefits. Doing so builds relationships with other Mocs Club members and allows me to invest back into an athletics program that meant so much to me in my childhood. But it also provides a forum to connect with student-athletes who benefit from our support and witness a tangible return on my investment.

Favorite part of living in Chattanooga?
There is a palpable energy in Chattanooga we've experienced since moving back here that didn't exist previously. I've witnessed a spirit of generosity where people from all walks of life are genuinely passionate about improving the quality of life here. We live in the Southside and have seen the renaissance there, and I believe our best days are still ahead of us. 

Favorite Chattanooga Athletics memory or experience? 
It's hard to pinpoint just one. Winning the Division II basketball championship in '76 was amazing. The volume and fervor of the last few years in Maclellan Gym. The inaugural game at the Roundhouse against Tennessee. The gut-wrenching loss against Minnesota in Indianapolis. Attending the Sweet 16 game in '97 in Birmingham. Being in Asheville for David Jean-Baptiste's miracle shot. Those plus many others are memories I will never forget. 

What excites you most about the future of Chattanooga Athletics?
When I attended UTC it was primarily a commuter school for local residents. Seeing how the university has become a preferred destination for student-athletes from all over is a tribute to the leadership over the years. I see the same concept translate to athletics in the quality of coaches and student athletes that represent my alma mater. It makes me proud to be a Moc!

Final Thoughts?  
Some of the best memories of my childhood and since moving back to town revolve around UTC athletics. While my wife attended college in Alabama, she proudly considers herself a Moc now!  Even during the three decades I was away from Chattanooga, my loyalty was firmly with UTC athletics despite my children attending Auburn. Being able to become reunited with UTC through my association with the Mocs Club has brought my life full circle. 

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About the Mocs Club:
The Mocs Club is the annual fundraising arm for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletic Department. Support from each Mocs Club member benefits over 300 Moc student-athletes. The financial support generated by the Mocs Club works to alleviate the cost of student-athlete scholarships as well as providing a positive impact on our student-athletes in the classroom, on the field of play and beyond. 

Mocs Club Mission:
Generate resources to support the academic and athletic success of all UTC student-athletes. 

Not a Mocs Club Member and Interested in Joining?
Contact the Mocs Club at mocsclub@utc.edu or by calling (423) 425-4233. You may also join by clicking the link below.

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