A full-circle moment reconnects Howard “Terry” Guy Payne with the discovery that helped shape his life
More than 60 years ago, an 11-year-old boy on a road trip with his mother and friends made a discovery that would become part of Dayton’s scientific history.
In the late 1950s, Howard “Terry” Guy Payne was traveling along Route 42 near Waynesville to look for fossils in an area where road construction had exposed layers of rock. While there, he noticed unusual patterns in the stone.
Already involved with what was then the Dayton Museum of Natural History, now the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, Payne shared his observation with museum director E.J. Koestner, who had been searching for evidence of Ohio’s Ice Age past.
The markings were later identified as glacial striations: grooves carved into rock by massive glaciers thousands of years ago. The striations offered clear evidence that ice once covered the region.
What followed was a multi-day excavation led by museum staff and volunteers, who carefully recovered and transported the specimen to the museum. It remained on display for decades.
Now in his 70s, Payne recently returned to the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery to see the same specimen he identified as a child. It is now featured in the newly opened Entering the Ice Age exhibition. The immersive exhibit includes life-sized mastodon reconstructions, Ice Age specimens, interactive displays, and original artwork that bring Ohio’s ancient past to life.
Payne’s discovery and return to the museum were also recently featured by Spectrum News 1 in “Man’s discovery of Ohio Ice Age evidence comes full circle 60 years later”.
Payne’s early connection to the museum helped spark a lifelong passion for science and discovery. As a participant in the Junior Naturalist program and later a Junior Curator, he taught rock classes for other children, helped care for injured wildlife, and earned first place at the Museum Fair for his exhibit, Jewels in the Mineral World.
Reflecting on his longstanding connection to the institution, Payne shared, “I am honored to have the glacially grooved specimen on display once again. I’m very grateful for my early introductions to the museum which opened the door for experiences throughout my life.”
As an adult, Terry went on to pursue a career in the arts, specifically metalsmithing and printmaking. His love for natural history has stayed with him throughout his life, and he remains especially interested in wildlife and geology. And of course, he still keeps an eye out for more glacial striations in the area.
“This is a powerful reminder of how curiosity at a young age can lead to something lasting,” said Tracey Tomme, Boonshoft Museum President & CEO. “Terry’s story shows how one moment of discovery can come full circle and inspire others decades later.”
About the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Located in Dayton, the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery continues its mission of connecting the community to science, nature, and discovery across generations.
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