In 2003, I had the honor to meet and work with Dr. Hank Payne, President of Woodward Academy. He was to be introduced, in a somewhat formal fashion, to the business leaders of mid-town Atlanta, by Tom Murphy, owner of Murphy’s Restaurant.

Not being very comfortable with public speaking, Tom elected to introduce Hank via a video. Hank graciously agreed to take the time to be part of this video, even though he knew he would be making fun of himself.

I do believe this video allows you to meet the man loved and admired by so many, and now truly missed.

Please watch to the very end for a brief blooper by Hank. It captures his wit, his modesty, and innocence, and for me holding the camera, I couldn’t stop laughing.

Tom Murphy contacted Chris Schroder to produce the project, and Chris contacted me to make it happen. I co-wrote the script with Chris, and then I shot and edited the project on an extremely tight schedule.

Related: I Lost a Friend

Addendum 2008, July 22

I really do not know what to make of this, nor was I sure if I should even post it. But searching Yahoo! for “hank payne” results in over two-million Web pages. I doubt those who were closest to him will ever fully heal. He was one of a kind.

Dr. Hank Payne

Some years ago, my long-time friend and colleague, Chris Schroder, contacted me to see if I could shoot and edit a five-minute video in four days, with four different shooting locations.

“Of course,” I replied, with tongue planted firmly in cheek.

We were to shoot two of Atlanta’s prominent residents, with one introducing the other. Tom Murphy, owner of the very popular Murphy’s Restaurant in Virginia-Highland, was to introduce Dr. Hank Payne, the president at Woodward Academy, the largest private institution in the United States.

I knew Tom, and I knew we’d have plenty of laughs with him. But the president of a huge, private school? Dr. Payne, or Hank as he preferred, was a surprise from the first moment. One of those rare individuals who has you all busting up within minutes after meeting him. He fell into his acting character like a natural.

The video (link below) — even though rushed and a bit unpolished — was a huge hit for both Tom and Hank. We all had a great time making it.

BUT WHY?

Sadly, there was something about Hank Payne that he kept very close to himself. Because this devoted family man, active in the community and his Temple, jumped to his death earlier this week, placing all who knew him in a complete state of shock.

Just hours before he took his life, he headed a huge rally at Woodward, with all the motivation and excitement people came to expect from him. But apparently no one has any idea what drove this very special man to end his life. Hank Payne is now at peace.

Hank Payne’s Video Introduction

Godspeed my friend.