The Author: Carol Payne Myers
Carol Myers has a lifelong love of coastal Florida. She enjoys swimming, crabbing, beachcombing and exploring nature. She has been a science educator for 35 years and holds a Master’s degree in Science Education from Montana State University. Carol became interested in writing as a way to honor the memory and environmentalism of her dad. Carol is married to Ben Myers and has twin daughters Morgan and Lindsay. They enjoy sharing their love of the Gulf Coast with their 7 grandchildren: Sam, Caroline, Beatrice, Jacinta, Philip, Hally,, and Ruthie.
The Illustrator: Leslie Scott
Leslie Scott is a native of Pensacola where she played in the woods and along the bayou shore with her six siblings and many neighborhood friends who were encouraged to “free range” until supper. She recently moved back to the area after 30 years in Colorado where she raised her two children, Alec and Isabelle. She is the proud grandmother of Georgia.
She has a BA in Art from the University of Alabama and was Captain of the Women's Basketball team.
She is retired from Starbucks where she was a partner for over 15 years.
Hally the Heron at Home on the Bayou
Bayou Tribute
Bayou Texar in Pensacola, Florida holds a special place in the heart of the Payne family. Our dad, Dr. Philip A. Payne, moved to East Hill on the bayou when he was a young boy. He often told us about the dolphins that regularly came into the bayou because the water was clean. In the mid 70’s our family moved to the East Pensacola Heights side of the bayou during a period of high pollution in the waterways of Pensacola. We remember frequent fish kills and being told to stay out of the water. During this time the Bayou Texar Foundation was formed in an effort to educate, conserve, and protect Bayou Texar. Our dad was instrumental in bringing the woes of the Bayou to the attention of the Pensacola City Council where he attended meetings for 35 years. Hally believed that stormwater runoff due to development was making the bayou a collection point for pollution. Through his efforts and those involved in the Bayou Texar Foundation the Pensacola City Council purchased street sweepers to mitigate stormwater runoff. After our dad died in 2005 the City Council honored him with a new streetsweeper with his name on the front. Dr. Bill Spain, who knew of my dad’s lifelong efforts to protect Bayou Texar, initiated the process to name the Bayou Texar bridge after him. Today Hwy 90 (Cervantes) over Bayou Texar is named the “Dr. Philip A. Payne” bridge. Thanks to our dad and all who wanted to preserve this beautiful bayou, many birds, fish, and dolphins can be seen regularly on Bayou Texar.
From Left to Right: 1) The author’s grandfather Philip Almon Payne Sr. at the age of 10, 2)the author’s great grandfather Allie Payne, 3) and the lady in the hat is Agnes Payne, Allie’s sister and 4) the lady sitting is Allie’s wife Dora Brown Payne. The two boys to the right are unidentified by family members. The photo (circa 1912) was taken on Bayou Texar.
The Dr. Philip A. Payne Bridge commemorating our father’s work in restoring Bayou Texar was established by the Florida legislature in 2006.