In Memoriam: John William "Bill" Potter
Bill passed away July 8 after a brief hospital stay. He was born Oct. 5, 1932, in Beardstown, Ill., to Clarence Elmer Potter and Dorothy Hannah Broeker Potter.
Bill graduated from Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio. He studied at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1954 and served two years in the medical corps in the hospital at Fort Belvoir, Va. He worked in Orthotics and Prosthetics and held many certifications. He worked at VAMC in Temple, and was Chief of Orthotics in the Orthotics and Prosthetics lab at VAMC Dallas.
He received patents for several accomplishments and made many innovations in Prosthetics and Orthotics. He retired from VAMC after 37 years and continued in private practice at Cedar Creek Orthotics and Prosthetics in Gun Barrel City as well as Texas Department of Corrections clinics in Palestine and Gatesville, and Federal Corrections in Seagoville, until his retirement in 1997.
Bill served on the Gun Barrel City Volunteer Fire Department, several years as Assistant Chief, and as a water rescue diver.
He also applied his self-taught welding, electrical, and manufacturing skills to use with the fire department, including repairs to the hose-drying racks, fire-fighting tools/axes, and the creation of “The Potter Tool”, used to penetrate mobile home metal walls while delivering water through the tool into the inside of the home where entry was dangerous and difficult.
As a Christian (Methodist), Bill lived his faith by participating in committees, work crews and many missions and trips with First United Methodist in Mabank and missions including the College Lunch Ministry at First United Methodist in Belton. He was also a BSA Scoutmaster in Temple for several years in the 60s.
Bill was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy (Broeker) Potter, step-mother Ruth (Sleight) Potter, daughter Betty Ann Potter, father Clarence Elmer Potter, granddaughter Natalie Annette Potter, cousins Ghlee Renner and Glen Renner (Glenda) and son Frank Arthur Potter (Eva).
He is survived by his wife Delpha Lauderdale Potter, sons Clarence W. Potter (Valerie) and Glen S. Potter, step-children Leslie Huff (Phyllis), Candace Huff Wilcox (Ronnie), and Valerie Huff Farwell (John), cousin Gale Renner, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held July 14, 2024 at Belton First United Methodist Church, as well as a future date to be announced in Gun Barrel City.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital.
Bill passed away July 8 after a brief hospital stay. He was born Oct. 5, 1932, in Beardstown, Ill., to Clarence Elmer Potter and Dorothy Hannah Broeker Potter.
Bill graduated from Alamo Heights High School in San Antonio. He studied at Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill.
He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1954 and served two years in the medical corps in the hospital at Fort Belvoir, Va. He worked in Orthotics and Prosthetics and held many certifications. He worked at VAMC in Temple, and was Chief of Orthotics in the Orthotics and Prosthetics lab at VAMC Dallas.
He received patents for several accomplishments and made many innovations in Prosthetics and Orthotics. He retired from VAMC after 37 years and continued in private practice at Cedar Creek Orthotics and Prosthetics in Gun Barrel City as well as Texas Department of Corrections clinics in Palestine and Gatesville, and Federal Corrections in Seagoville, until his retirement in 1997.
Bill served on the Gun Barrel City Volunteer Fire Department, several years as Assistant Chief, and as a water rescue diver.
He also applied his self-taught welding, electrical, and manufacturing skills to use with the fire department, including repairs to the hose-drying racks, fire-fighting tools/axes, and the creation of “The Potter Tool”, used to penetrate mobile home metal walls while delivering water through the tool into the inside of the home where entry was dangerous and difficult.
As a Christian (Methodist), Bill lived his faith by participating in committees, work crews and many missions and trips with First United Methodist in Mabank and missions including the College Lunch Ministry at First United Methodist in Belton. He was also a BSA Scoutmaster in Temple for several years in the 60s.
Bill was preceded in death by his mother Dorothy (Broeker) Potter, step-mother Ruth (Sleight) Potter, daughter Betty Ann Potter, father Clarence Elmer Potter, granddaughter Natalie Annette Potter, cousins Ghlee Renner and Glen Renner (Glenda) and son Frank Arthur Potter (Eva).
He is survived by his wife Delpha Lauderdale Potter, sons Clarence W. Potter (Valerie) and Glen S. Potter, step-children Leslie Huff (Phyllis), Candace Huff Wilcox (Ronnie), and Valerie Huff Farwell (John), cousin Gale Renner, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were held July 14, 2024 at Belton First United Methodist Church, as well as a future date to be announced in Gun Barrel City.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital.
In Memoriam: John Fergason, CPO/L
John Fergason, CPO/L, passed away in June after a short battle with cancer.
He was chief prosthetist and director of the division of orthotics and prosthetics for the Center for the Intrepid where he had worked since 2004.
From 1996 until 2004, Fergason was the director of the division of orthotics and prosthetics, department of rehabilitation, at the University of Washington.
He earned his bachelor’s degree at California State University, Fresno, in 1985, his prosthetics certificate at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1986, and his orthotics certificate at Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center in 1991.
John Fergason, CPO/L, passed away in June after a short battle with cancer.
He was chief prosthetist and director of the division of orthotics and prosthetics for the Center for the Intrepid where he had worked since 2004.
From 1996 until 2004, Fergason was the director of the division of orthotics and prosthetics, department of rehabilitation, at the University of Washington.
He earned his bachelor’s degree at California State University, Fresno, in 1985, his prosthetics certificate at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1986, and his orthotics certificate at Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center in 1991.
In Memoriam: John Michael, MEd, CPO, LPO, FAAOP, FISPO
by The O&P EDGE August 1, 2024
John Michael, MEd, CPO, LPO, FAAOP, FISPO, passed away in July.
Michael retired from the Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center in April 2020.
He has long been recognized as a leader and contributor to the O&P profession. He received numerous awards, including the Titus-Ferguson lifetime achievement award, Outstanding Researcher award, Distinguished Practitioner award, and Outstanding Clinician award. He was also a Fellow of the International Society for Prosthetics & Orthotics.
He served as president of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (the Academy) from 1989 to 1990.
Michael served as a panelist during a special event, Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Inspiring the Future, at the opening session of the 50th Academy Annual Meeting & Scientific Symposium in March, where he shared historical insights about O&P.
by The O&P EDGE August 1, 2024
John Michael, MEd, CPO, LPO, FAAOP, FISPO, passed away in July.
Michael retired from the Northwestern University Prosthetics-Orthotics Center in April 2020.
He has long been recognized as a leader and contributor to the O&P profession. He received numerous awards, including the Titus-Ferguson lifetime achievement award, Outstanding Researcher award, Distinguished Practitioner award, and Outstanding Clinician award. He was also a Fellow of the International Society for Prosthetics & Orthotics.
He served as president of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (the Academy) from 1989 to 1990.
Michael served as a panelist during a special event, Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, and Inspiring the Future, at the opening session of the 50th Academy Annual Meeting & Scientific Symposium in March, where he shared historical insights about O&P.