Barbara Burleson, City of Altus Planning Department director, reported an overwhelming response to her request for base help in Payton's behalf. Volunteers came primarily from the 97th Security Forces Squadron and Oklahoma Army National Guard soldiers deployed at the base with help from members of the operational support, air support and training squadrons.
"People from the base removed debris from around the house. That was wonderful," Payton said. "I was just leaving it there because I was going to do all that at once when I got through."
The energetic 81-year-old veteran purchased side-by-side houses in 1991 at 521 and 523 West Pecan. The Dilapidated Building Commission for the City of Altus contacted Payton in November 2001 about the condition of his properties. Both houses were in bad shape, one worse than the other. Payton lived at 521 West Pecan and used the plumbing next door. The commission found the house at 523 West Pecan beyond rehabilitation and recommended demolition.
"When I pulled up, he had a tool belt on and was working on his houses, and I had to tell him that one was going to have to come down," said Kenny Anderson, the city's chief building inspector. "His story was heart wrenching in a way, but he always had a positive attitude about everything. He's worked hard trying to do what we wanted him to do. His goal was to get a house fixed up to live in. Mr. Payton is a man who wants to get his job done. He's quite a guy."
The Dilapidated Building Commission (Mayor T.L. Gramling, Public Works Director Robert Stephenson, City Administrator Mike Nettles and Burleson) reviewed Payton's rehabilitation progress and extended the time for compliance to city building codes. Gramling initiated the commission -- with Altus City Council approval -- to address the 400 unoccupied houses identified during the 2000 Census.
Payton made slow but steady progress and succeeded in single-handedly tearing down the larger house at 523 West Pecan, saving the lumber and other materials to renovate the remaining house, which once suffered a fire. "He has been determined to make it work," Burleson said.
However, one thing after another slowed Payton's progress. Not only did thieves steal most of his reserved lumber and materials, but he also went to the hospital with vein problems in one leg. Just after the hospital stay, Mark Hestand, code enforcement inspector, discovered Payton with a bandaged leg shingling his roof and convinced him that pressure to finish the job was not that great.
"At my age it wouldn't help to me to operate, so the doctors are using medication. It (his leg) still bothers me when I'm on it quite a while. If I walk any more than three blocks, it gets pretty bad," Payton said. "But I've worked all my life; I can't be still too long."
He recently drove by himself to the Oklahoma City Veterans Hospital and then to the University of Oklahoma Medical Center for surgery to repair his pacemaker.
As a child, Payton lived in many Oklahoma and Texas towns. During World War II he served overseas in the Army 349th Field Artillery in North Africa, Italy and the Philippines. His grandmother lived in Lawton; several cousins live in Altus, while a brother and sisters reside in Texas and California.
During winter 2002, Anderson became concerned about the air quality in Payton's house, due to the wood burning stove. "You could smell the smoke on him so bad that you knew the air in that house was not fit to breathe. That's when we appealed to him to find some other place to stay," Anderson said.
Burleson attempted to persuade Payton to move into the Towers apartments. The Rev. Robert Bostic, pastor of St. Johns Baptist Church, said Payton eventually consented to move temporarily into one of the church's homes (purchased to meet needs of the elderly on fixed incomes) while he continued work on his own house.
"I can see the people at the church liking Mr. Payton as much as we do, and we just see him when he is testifying before the board to ask for more time," Burleson said. "We have so many that when we send a letter, we don't even get a response. He always shows up to let us know what he's doing. He is sincere; he's a man of his word."
In the meantime, Burleson with Payton's consent contacted Gwen Brewer, chief of Public Affairs at Altus Air Force Base, for help. Brewer said the military had no community service requirement but volunteers wanted to help after regular working hours, primarily on weekends.
"Our people feel that being part of the community is truly 'being a part of the community,' which means doing things like this. It gets us into the community," Brewer said. "You'll find us everywhere. We're coaching teams, teaching Sunday school; we do Habitat for Humanity; you will find people from the base involved in just about every place."
At Altus AFB's quarterly awards luncheons, Gramling presents a Mayor's Traveling Trophy to the squadron or unit that contributes the most to the city. Brewer said the trophy winner is selected by the type of community service performed, the number of people involved and the number of volunteer hours worked. "They do a lot of work downtown," Gramling said.
Lt. Nancy Kuck, deputy chief of Public Affairs, issued the e-mail memo requesting volunteers and coordinated the base/city project to help Payton. "It was a huge response; it was just unbelievable," she said. "We're going to do the best we can to help remodel. Our squadron members want to do this to get him into a home."
Burleson said Anderson works with the volunteers to help Payton. Last weekend, Anderson even purchased rakes out of his own pocket for the 22 volunteers working to clear debris from another dilapidated house. "We are really excited about the National Guard and Air Force volunteers that want to help our residents," said Burleson. "Their community service will help with the New Altus Neighborhoods program goals to make all Altus neighborhoods a good place to live for all residents."
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