For many years, I would post this on social media but now that I have dropped all of these except LinkedIn, I’m going to share it here.
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On this Memorial Day, I want to thank and honor John Potter, a man who served our country honorably, bravely, and humbly and who had an enormous impact on the course of my life.
One summer, Mr. Potter, “JoPo” to his many friends, took a chance on a callow 21-year-old boy, hired him, and over the course of three years, led him through many of life’s most important lessons. Just a few of these included:
Live every day as if it’s your last. Mr. Potter learned this lesson in the skies over North Africa and Europe where only 1 in 4 B-17 crews survived 25 missions. He made it through 53.
Don’t let the past define you. Mr. Potter stoically endured physical and emotional war wounds all his adult life. If you didn’t know him well and didn’t have the opportunity to spend a lot of time around him, you would have never known. He never looked backwards.
Treasure your friends. Mr. Potter collected friends like… well I can’t find a good analogy. I guess you could call him a friend “hoarder”. I can’t recall ever hearing someone say anything bad about JoPo, even though he ran one of the most contentious political offices in Texas government – redistricting. He got mad at people, but he couldn’t stay mad at his friends, and everyone was his friend.
Treat people as you find them. Mr. Potter never met a stranger, and didn’t care where you came from, what you did, or who your daddy was. From presidents, governors, senators, and congressmen, to janitors, to barkeeps across Texas (and Mexican border towns), we were all God’s children and that was good enough for JoPo.
Keep your word. Mr. Potter could be counted on to follow through on a commitment and to keep a confidence. A man of his word, people intuitively knew that they could trust him. I share one astounding secret that he carried to his grave.
Drink responsibly. Mr. Potter wasn’t perfect – he smoked like a chimney and was known to bend his elbow. A lot. His office in the basement of the Capitol was not properly equipped without two bottles of Canadian Club and a case of beer (kept cold under the computer room floor). He was an institution at the Capitol area bar where he held court. That said, he held his liquor well, never spoke or acted inappropriately, and set a good example for those in need of one.
Laugh, a lot. Mr. Potter chose to find joy in a life where he had many reasons not to. Rarely without a smile, JoPo brightened the lives of countless people in his circle. An inveterate teaser, he could needle you and make you laugh until it hurt. It’s impossible to think back on him without smiling.
Get an education. To my knowledge, Mr. Potter never had that opportunity, even though he never let it get in his way… no sir! Raised during the Depression in rural central Texas, he joined the Army Air Corps prior to Pearl Harbor (possibly on his 18th birthday) and received his education in the terror-filled skies over Europe. Which leads to the end of this story.
As the redistricting effort wound down, Mr. Potter “fired” that boy, to force him to return to college and make a better life for himself. That boy is me. Mr. Potter’s belief in me and the lessons he taught made me the man I am today. His influence extends to my children and grandchildren. I am eternally grateful to this magnificent gentleman.
The following is an excerpt from a resolution passed by the Texas House of Representatives shortly after his death:
WHEREAS, The passing of John Travis Potter, Sr., on September 6, 1993, at the age of 69, has brought a great loss to the many friends and relatives of this esteemed gentleman; and
WHEREAS, A native Texan, he was born September 20, 1923, in Gorman and, as a young man, joined the Army Air Corps in September 1941; during World War II, Mr. Potter served gallantly in the 97th Bomber Group and flew 53 missions as the engineer gunner on a B-17 in the Tunisia, Sicily, Naples, and Foggia campaigns; and
WHEREAS, This highly decorated veteran was honored for his exceptional service to his country as the recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, and three Bronze Stars for his participation in the European African Middle Eastern campaign.
A DFC, Purple Heart, and THREE Bronze Stars. He always walked a little bowlegged. Now I understand why.
RIP Mr. Potter
