by Larry Eder
This is Coffee with Larry for Friday, August 10, 2023.
Coffee with Larry is our almost daily podcast on all things track & field. We run the show LIVE on Facebook, and then post on our blog, #RunBlogRun.
Our topics today:
1. Michael Payton, a respected Communications Professional in running, died on July 21, 2023. He was 67 years old.
2. Michael Payton was at Reebok from 1990-1994 and 2000-2004. Michael developed his own group, The Peyton Group, which managed PR and communications campaigns for some key brands in the running business, including Mizuno and FILA. Michael Payton kept the media informed of the exploits of Reeboks’ elite athletes and helped get the word out about Reebok’s running programs.
3. Micheal helped Mizuno relaunch running in the late 1990s and managed the PR for the Discovery America program from FILA. FILA’s program, which gave a group of US athletes the chance to train with FILA’s amazing Kenyan athletes.
4. Michael Payton was also involved in the Dan & Dave sports marketing program at Reebok, 1991-1992, which was one of the finest sports marketing programs ever in running. Dave Johnson and Dan O’Brien were two of the world’s best decathletes at the time. Reebok created t-shirts, print, and TV ads that were funny as hell. Three months later, 95 percent of US college students knew exactly who Dan and Dave were. Dave won the Olympic bronze in 1992 on a sore foot, and Dan O’Brien, who did not make the Olympic team in 1992, set a new WR in Talence, then came back in 1996 to take gold in the decathlon.
5. Thoughtful, articulate, Michael got it. I worked with him on his Reebok, Mizuno, and FILA and enjoyed working with Michael.
6. Michael Payton was 67 at the time of his death. His two children, Mark Payton and Kelly Payton. Michael has a brother, Robert, and a sister-in-law, Amy.
7. You can read his obituary, https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/eastbayri/name/michael-payton-obituary?id=52562469.
8. Donations in Michael’s memory can be made to St Mary of the Bay Food Pantry, 645 Main St, Warren RI 02885.
9. Michael Payton was a rare individual, and his friends and family will miss him. Michael was a good man who loved his children, running, and enjoyed his friends.
10. If you have memories of Michael that you would like to share, please send them to runblogrun@gmail.com.
#CoffeeWithLarry
