 WALLY PAYNTER POLITICAL ACTIVIST AND CRUSADER OF PEOPLE RIGHTS
The City-County Observer is pleased to recognize an outstanding crusader of people rights.  Wally Paynter has carried the torch for people equality for many years.  He is the current Board President & CEO of the Tri-State Alliance and coordinates a youth group for LGBTQ middle & high school students (Aug. 1998 to present), chair Tri-State AIDS Holiday.
Wally worked as the Vanderburgh County Health Department, Disease Intervention Specialist for 22 years until his retirement March. During his tenure, he tests and informs patients for a variety of communicable diseases including HIV and syphilis, made sure patients accessed treatment, and located partners of the need for a test and provided immediate testing.
He worked for Ronald Warrum, Attorney At Law, as a full-time Executive Assistant, from April 1992 – Sept. 1996. He helped with clients, assist in writing wills and powers of attorney, manage tax collection caseload.
He was also employed with the Illinois Department of Aging as a Case Manager. He investigated cases of elder abuse and referred clients to services to help them to stay at home.
Education:
May 1996, Nursing Degree, Southeastern Illinois College.
May 1989, BA in Psychology, University of Evansville. Community Involvement
Community Boards He Serves On:
Tri-State Alliance, June 1989 to present, Board President & CEO. Coordinate a youth group for LGBTQ middle & high school students (Aug. 1998 to present), chair Tri-State AIDS Holiday Project serving over 400 low-income households impacted by HIV / AIDS in a 3 state area; write grants, coordinate fundraising, manage a variety of projects, serve as an organizational spokesperson and community trainer.
Muscular Dystrophy Association Board of Directors, 1989 – 2013. Served as Board President, 1991- 1995, 1999-2003, 2007-2011,
Substance Abuse Council of Vanderburgh County, Board of Directors, 2008-Present. Chair of Special Events.
1st Presbyterian Church of Evansville, Diversity Committee Chair 1999-2016. Deacon 2011-Present.
University of Evansville, Student Government President 1987-1989; UE Board of Trustees and UE Alumni Board, 1989-1992. UE Diversity & Inclusion Committee, 1998-Present.
If you have a chance to talk with Wally please thank him for doing an outstanding job to protect the civil rights of members of the LGBTQ community.
Oh, just in case you didn’t know that Wally Paynter is really a nice and down to earth person.
