The Payson High Origin Story

Payson has a long tradition of celebrating learning and providing an exceptional education.

The first Utah high school south of Salt Lake City was established in Payson in 1873. This school wasn’t yet called Payson High School, but it is the intellectual ancestor of PHS. It closed in 1876 in order to consolidate students into the new Brigham Young Academy in Provo. It didn’t take long, though, before Payson felt the community’s hunger to again provide their own quality education. In 1884, Payson Public Schools established a new school in Payson called the Central School, gradually adding grades until it became a full high school. The first class from this new school graduated in 1893. There were 13 graduating seniors.

In addition to quality academics, the Payson community has also long supported quality extracurricular activities. In 1908 the first Payson football team was established. Later, in 1910, Payson won the Utah County Track & Field Championships. The Payson teams first called themselves the Payson Farmers, later renamed the Beetdiggers, and later the Maple Leaves. The Maple Leaves mascot is what gave PHS the school colors of green and silver. In 1912, construction was completed on the first school building to be officially called Payson Senior High School, a beautiful two-story red brick building. That same year, the first class of seniors graduated. Only five years later, in 1917, the brand new Payson High won its first state championship--this one by the track & field team. Many more state championships would follow.

In 1928, the Maple Leaves mascot was changed to the Lions to celebrate the Payson Lions Club--the local chapter of the Lions Club International--for their generous fundraising contributions to the school. That year, the football team needed new uniforms, but was out of money. The Lions Club organized community wide fundraisers, donated their own money, and bought season tickets. Payson had a great season that year. With the support of the community, and in their new uniforms, they made it to the semifinals of the state football playoffs, finishing in the top 4 in the state. Losing their last game to Manti, the team returned to Payson to find that the Lions Club had again rallied the community around them by organizing a banquet for the players to celebrate their hard work, school spirit, and successful season.

At Payson High School we are proud of our long tradition of honoring learning and providing an extraordinary education. We are also proud to bear the name "Lions" in honor of the Payson Lions Club. Our shared story with the Lions Club highlights the core belief of our Lion Pride: that our greatest power is realized when our community comes together to serve, strengthen, and support each other.

Welcome to the Pride!