Andy Payne Statue

Route 66 at S. Andy Payne Blvd., Foyil, OK
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We hear a lot about 26.2 mile marathon races today, but think about this, 19 year old Andy Payne entered the Bunyon Derby and ran 3,422.5 miles between March 4 and May 26 in 1928 starting in Los Angeles, California and ending in New york City, NY. One of 275 runners who had started the race he was the first of only 55 to cross the finish line. For winning the race he was awarded a prize of $25,000.00, which was a large pile of cash in 1928.

Andrew (Andy) Hartley Payne) was a part Cherokee farm boy from Foyil wore #43 in the race. This is one of two monuments to Paynes achivement in Foyil, it stands proudly in a park on the south side of Foyil, at the south end of Andy Payne Blvd. The statue was erected in 1998. The other monument is at the north end of Andy Payne Blvd.

The plaque tells us the Payne went on to serve 56 years as Clerk of the Oklahoma State Supreme Court.

Photo(s): 2012