Henry Payne speaks to Republicans April 18

Award-winning Detroit News auto columnist Henry Payne will speak to the Eastside Republican Club 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 18, at The War Memorial.

Mike Vethacke, ERC chairman, cited Payne’s wide-ranging talents in a statement in advance of the meeting.

“Mr. Payne is a student of history, closely follows current events and now drives and writes about electric vehicles, so we are eager to get his perspective,” Vethacke said.

“The Forum is open to the public at no charge, so we invite everyone to hear Mr. Payne and to ask questions.” Forum doors open at 7 p.m. for coffee and networking in advance of the meeting.

Payne’s coverage for The News includes vehicle reviews, product trends and breaking auto news. He’s won multiple awards for his car columns, including the SPJ Excellence in Journalism prize.

He has written for The Wall Street Journal, National Review, New York Post, Washington Times and other outlets.

Payne is also an active race driver at the helm of a vintage Lola.

Born in Charleston, West Virginia, Payne received a degree in history from Princeton University in 1984. As editorial cartoonist for two student newspapers, The Daily Princetonian and the Nassau Weekly, Payne won the College Media Advisers Cartoon Contest and the Tribune Company Syndicate’s National College Cartoonist’s Contest.

Upon graduation from Princeton, Payne began his newspaper career as staff artist and editorial cartoonist with the Charleston Daily Mail. In 1986 he joined Scripps Howard News Service and began syndication with United Feature in 1987.

Detroit News hired Payne in 2000 and he now contributes auto reviews, videos, and product reporting to The News.

His weekly “Car Radio” show for WFDF-910 AM Detroit is Michigan’s premier auto enthusiast program. The live talk show follows the auto industry’s news, products and trends, featuring interviews with newsmakers from car executives to race car drivers. Car Radio is also available via podcast on Spotify, Apple, Google, Detroit News and Stitcher.

A Pulitzer Prize-nominated cartoonist, Payne produces five cartoons a week for Andrews McMeel Syndicate which run in 60 publications across the US. He has been awarded Michigan’s Best Editorial Cartoonist by the Associated Press and Best auto columnist by the Society of Professional Journalists. He was a runner-up for both the Mencken awards.

As an author, Payne has published three books including two children’s books by Random House. His first book, “Payne & Ink: The Cartoons and Commentary of Henry Payne, 2000-2001,” was published in 2002. He has also illustrated two children’s books for Random House: “Where did Daddy’s Hair Go?” (by Joe O’Connor) in 2006, and Dr. Seuss’ “The Ear Book” in 2007.