W.R. (POTT) AND THULA SHAFER POTTER

Walter Ray was born in Dallas, Texas on May 1, 1899. His father, D.D. Potter, was in the grocery business.

The family moved from Dallas to a farm in Ellis County, near Britton, living here a few years before deciding to make Roscoe their home. The Potters arrived in Roscoe in February of 1907, in the worst sandstorm a 7-year-old boy had ever seen, now as well as then. He wondered why they didn't immediately go back home. Yet, he recalls changing schools as the most upsetting. He had started to school at Gurty.

Pott was active in all athletics in Roscoe High School. He graduated in 1918, World War I years, and enrolled at Simmons College the following fall. He registered with the SATC (Soldier's Army Training Corp.). In college, he was involved in basketball, football and track.

While at Simmons, he became interested in banking through the influence of a special friend and in August 1921, he was employed by the Roscoe State Bank as bookkeeper. This was the beginning of a lifetime career. Positions he held on the way up were teller, assistant cashier, director and cashier before becoming president in 1949 upon the death of T.M. Dobbins. W.R. holds the distinction of being the 4th president of the oldest bank in Nolan County; the doors of the Roscoe State Bank were first opened December 6, 1906.

Potter was president of the bank for 23 years. The serious illness of his wife caused him to sell the controlling interest in 1972. He is still a part of the bank and is serving as chairman of the board.

W.R. and Thula Shafer were married on June 3, 1924. Thula, the daughter of H.B. and Iola Shafer, finished Roscoe High School in 1921 and had taught at Blackwell and was teaching in Roscoe when the couple married.

As members of the Methodist Church, they served in many ways, W.R. on finance committees, the Administrative Board, and as trustee. Thula was teacher of the Pyramid Sunday School Class for many years, past-president of the WSCS and active on many committees within the organization of the church. Her special contribution was organizing the Advance Circle, composed of all young women of the church. She was their counselor.

Other community activities included Pott's membership in the Lions Club,, Fire Chief of the Roscoe Volunteer Department for 10 years, and being a 32nd Degree Mason, a member of Scottish Rite and Shriners. Thula served the community in many ways as officer on the Women's Club Building Board, Garden Club, Wednesday Study Club and others. Her health became a deterrent to her activities in the late 60's.

In 1967, Thula underwent open-heart surgery, uniquely rare at that time. She lived five years afterward, still an energetic influence for all who knew her. Her demise on November 5, 1972 was truly felt.

This couple reared as their son Thula's nephew, Billy Boyd Cardwell, after his mother, Thelma, died. He was later adopted. Billy served in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he was employed by the Gulf Refinery until being transferred to the Colonial Pipe Line Company. He is now head of their safety department.

Billy and his wife, the former Mary Jo McLeod of Roscoe, now live in Atlanta, Georgia. They have four children, a boy and three girls.

From First 100 Years Nolan County Texas, published 1985 by the Nolan County Genealogical Society (no longer in print, transcribed with permission) - Page 330
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TOM GREEN COUNTY DEATH CERTIFICATE

name: Thula May Potter
death date: 05 Nov 1972
death place: Shannon West Hospital, San Angelo, Tom Green, Texas
cause of death: Saddle aortic aneurism; rheumatic heart disease with post-op mitral stenosis
gender: Female
race: White
death age: 67 years
estimated birth date: 1905
birth date: 23 Feb 1905
birthplace: Texas
marital status: Married
spouse's name:
father's name: H. B. Shafer
father's birthplace:
mother's name: Iola Caskey
mother's birthplace:
occupation: Housewife
place of residence: 501 Main, Roscoe, Texas
cemetery: Roscoe
burial place: Roscoe, Nolan, Texas
burial date: 06 Nov 1972
additional relatives/informant: W. R. Potter
film number: 2242194
digital film number: 4169873
image number: 864
reference number: 86445
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