Obituary of Richard C. Payton Jr.

Richard "Rick" C. Payton Jr., 66, of State College, died Friday, October 30, 2015, at his home. Born November 9, 1948, in Philipsburg, he was the son of the late Richard C. Payton, Sr. and Emma Jennings Payton. Rick is survived by a sister, Mary L. Hurd of Clearfield, and her son, William Richard Hurd, of New Orleans, his significant other, Laurelyn Watson, of State College and her children, Christielyn Watson, Katielyn Watson and Angielyn Englis. Also surviving are Laurelyn's grandchildren, Micah Aaron Watson and Alyssa M. Peterson. Rick graduated from Clearfield High School in 1966. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War in the 1st Calvary Division Airmobile. Rick was a uniformed patrol officer for the State College Bureau of Police Services from 1973 until 1979. In January of 1979, he received commendations which lead to his appointment to the Criminal Investigation Unit within the bureau, where he specialized in white collar crime and homicide investigations. Throughout this time, he worked closely with the banking industry of Centre County and frequently lectured and conducted seminars for the local American Bankers Association chapter, hosting members from area banks. Rick opened his own investigative and security guard company, Payton and Associates, in August of 1986. The rapid growth of his business lead him to sell the security division to St. Moritz Security Services, a Pittsburgh based company, in 1991 so he could further build his investigative division. He remained a consultant for them and managed a large territory from Johnstown, east to the Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey boarders. In 2000, he reorganized his business as a full investigative agency with specialized executive protection functions and in 2007, he bought his security division back from St. Moritz Security Services. Rick remained a consultant for the company and established a business relationship with Penn State University. He provided security for various functions including Beaver Stadium escorts, Housing and Foods Lion Cash, ESPN game day coverage as well as celebrity and executive protection. As a former member of law enforcement and through his business, he established a working relationship with many local attorneys, law firms, and law enforcement agencies in and around the county. Payton and Associates was a court appointed investigator for Blair, Cambria, Centre, Mifflin, Huntingdon, Clearfield, Lycoming, Cumberland, Dauphin, and Lackawanna counties. Rick was a member of the Police Science Advisory Committee for the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Technology, Pleasant Gap, and the Criminal Justice Advisory Committee for South Hills Business School. He was a former instructor for the Crime, Law and Justice Program at Penn State University in the College of Liberal Arts. For the past 8 years, he served on the panel of the Occupational Competency Assessment Review Board for Penn State University, where he was responsible for reviewing and testing Law Enforcement Instructor Certifications through Penn State. Rick was a charter member, past president and the current Chairman of the Board of the Pennsylvania Association of Licensed Investigators. He was a member of the National Association of Legal Investigators and was working to become a Certified Legal Investigator within this organization. Rick is also a member of the International Intelligence Network; National Council of Investigators and Security Services; American Society of Industrial Security; American College of Forensic Examiners International; International Association of Security and Investigative Regulators; and Criminal Defense Investigators Training Council; a former Vice President and President of the Bald Eagle Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 51, Port Matilda. He was also a member of the Unity Church of Jesus Christ, State College. In 2006, Rick became a Special Investigator, conducting federal background clearances, for the United States Investigation Service. He then underwent extensive training in 2007 to increase his knowledge in terrorist related incidents and was noted as being one of the few security firms in Pennsylvania to have such training. Rick enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his buddy, Micah. He also enjoyed his escapes to Dewey Beach in his free time. Visitation will be 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday, November 6, 2015 at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 S. Atherton St., State College. Memorial service will be at 1 p.m., on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Unity Church of Jesus Christ, 140 N. Gill Street, State College, PA 16801, with Rev. Harold McKenzie officiating. Burial will be in Centre County Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made to Unity Church of Jesus Christ, 140 N. Gill St., State College, PA 16801 or The Hollidaysburg Veterans Home, 601 Hawthorne Drive, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com.