The J.A. "Doc" Potts Scholarship Endowment was established 2013 by the Estate of J. A. "Doc" Potts. Endowment proceeds provide scholarships to undergraduate or graduate students enrolled in the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources who have a financial need and have a minimum GPA of 2.00.

James A. "Doc" Potts was born on Aug. 18, 1923, in Lubbock County to Charles Thurman and Ella Snodgrass Potts. The family, which included three boys and a girl, lived northwest of Lubbock on a small parcel of land adjacent to what is today's Lubbock Lake Historical site, until the family moved to a cotton farm southwest of Lubbock in the Barton/Cooper area. Doc was active in the 4-H Club and won numerous honors. His steer won Grand Champion in Lubbock's 1937 stock show, followed by him being awarded a trip to the National 4-H Assembly in Chicago the following year. Upon returning, he announced to his parents that he would someday be a county agent, which dream he eventually fulfilled. He won the 4-H State Livestock Championship in 1940 and received a trip to Washington, D.C. He set an all-time record for his eight years in 4-H by receiving gross income of $6,000 for his livestock projects.

In 1941, he enrolled in Texas Tech, and a semester later joined the ROTC after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, leaving college in April of 1943 to join the service and ultimately serving at an Army medical base north of London. When the war ended, he was discharged and returned home to marry Melba Slater, also from the Cooper area, in 1946. He graduated from Tech with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics in 1948 and became an assistant county agent in Lovington, N.M.

Doc joined the Tulia based Taylor-Evans Farm Stores in 1951, and later became a part owner. Taylor-Evans was involved in numerous agriculturally-related businesses, including farm and ranch supplies, seed, fertilizer and chemicals. The seed operations included extensive research programs in hybrid grain sorghums, which were distributed in 25 states, Central and South American, Africa, and Europe. The company was acquired by Diamond Shamrock in 1969 and Doc left the new company in 1972. In 1973, he was potentate of the Khiva Shrine Temple of Amarillo and also head of fundraising to establish the Nance Ranch Project for West Texas State in Canyon.

His great love was organizing, motivating people and selling, so after a brief attempt at retiring, Doc put his entrepreneurial spirit back to work as he purchased control of the small struggling First National Bank of Plainview. This began a new career. The bank grew and prospered over the next ten years and was sold in 1982.

Doc Potts was a loving husband, father and grandfather, and a loyal Red Raider. He was an outstanding contributor to many known and unknown individuals and causes.

Doc passed away Sunday evening, Feb. 3, 2013 in Dallas at the age of 89. Doc was surrounded by his children, their spouses, and most of his nine grandchildren over the weekend.

To support this scholarship, please visit the J. A. "Doc" Potts Endowed Scholarship gift page.

Contact

Alex Yack
Alex.Yack@ttu.edu
Senior Director of Development
806.742.2802

Matt Williams
matt.williams@ttu.edu
Associate Director of Development
806.742.2802

Tanner Rex
tanner.rex@ttu.edu
Assistant Director of Development
806.742.2802