If Rusty Payne had a nickname for all he has been involved with at McLean High School over many years “Mr. Everything” would be a fitting label.
A McLean native, Payne first became familiar with the school as a young fan at age 6 when he began attending varsity football games. When he got older, Payne eventually attended and graduated from McLean High, in 1991, playing varsity basketball and baseball during his time for the Highlanders along with announcing some lower-lever freshman and junior varsity.
When he returned to the area after graduating from Brigham Young University in 1997, Payne, now 50, became much more involved in the school in different manners. Mainly, he took over as the lead announcer for varsity football games in 2003, until his final game on Aug. 31 this fall. Payne announced games for seven different head coaches. He also played a big role in starting McLean’s sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
The Aug. 31 game will be Payne’s last because he and his wife, Virginia, are moving to Kingwood, Texas, near Houston, in coming days.
“It has been a great pleasure being so involved at McLean,” Payne said. “It will be really hard leaving, but we felt it was the right time to make a new adventure. So many people have been so good to me at McLean. We will come back to visit a lot and it’s easy to keep in touch now.”
During his involvement with the school, Payne became McLean’s historian of sorts on all school matters, sports and otherwise. He often was a go-to guy for members of the media in search of an obscure McLean fact.
Eventually, Payne became the boys head freshman basketball coach at McLean, holding that post for six seasons. He left that position prior to last season to join the varsity staff of the Meridian High School boys team in Falls Church, under head coach Jim Smith. Years earlier Payne played for Smith’s varsity team at McLean.
In recent years, Payne announced games in other sports on occasion at McLean, and helped secure a big donation from an school alumnus for a new athletic weight room.
“Rusty Payne was one of the first people I met at McLean when I started as principal,” said current school principal Ellen Reilly. “He was easy to talk with, and you could tell how proud he was of the community and school. He is a walking encyclopedia about the school. If you ever need a historic fact or a name, you pick up the phone and call Rusty. After some of our big wins over other schools in sports, I think the happiest person in the stands was Rusty.”
Greg Miller is McLean’s current director of student activities.
“When I first came to McLean, we had an instant connection,” Miller said. “I always appreciated his love of sports and especially his passion for McLean athletics. There is nobody who knows more about our sports history than Rusty. He will be impossible to replace.”
In Texas, Payne has interest in becoming involved in a high school there, maybe as a coach or announcer. But he plans to get settled first for a year or so.
“I will miss his friendship and our conversations,” Reilly said. “I know on Friday nights, I will truly miss hearing him announce our games. Rusty Payne is the heart of McLean High School.”
And maybe “Mr. Everything,” as well.