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Posted: Jun 20, 2015 4:16 PMUpdated: Jun 20, 2015 4:16 PM

Oklahoma Hall of Fame Coach Potter Passes Away

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Charlie Taraboletti

 Legendary Hall of Fame Coach, Jerry Potter passed away Friday night at the age of 89.  Potter led three Putnam City football teams to state championships and has been inducted into the Oklahoma Football Hall of Fame and National Football Coaches Hall of Fame.  He had numerous student athletes compete at the professional level including Seattle Seahawks Hall of Famer Steve Largeant and New York Jets Pat Ryan.
          Jerry Potter started his coaching career at Verden, Oklahoma where he coached basketball and baseball.  When Oklahoma City Harding became a high school, Jerry was named head football coach. At Harding his teams went to the State finals twice.  In 1965, Jerry was named football coach at Putnam City High School where he won three state championships (1974, 1975 and 1977).  Jerry attributed his coaching success to the fine young players  that the parents sent him, the outstanding assistant coaches surrounding him and the supportative administrators at Harding and Putnam City.  
     In 1957, Jerry was named Oklahoma City “Coach of the Year.”  1969-1970, he served as president of the Oklahoma Coaches Association.  In 1974 he was named District Five “Coach of the Year” by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.  That organization also admitted him to their National Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Hall of Fame in 1977.  
         Jerry is survived by his wife Ezell, son Kent Potter, son Kevin Potter and his wife Dorea; three grandsons, Dr. Heath Potter and his wife Chapel, Kaleb Potter and wife Taylor, and Brent Potter.  He is survived by two great granddaughters; Madelyn Kate Potter and Claire Violet Potter.  He is also survived by a host of cousins and friends.


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