- Date Of Birth: March 7, 1927
- Date Of Death: March 3, 2019
- State: Texas
Roy Cochran Potts, 91, of Belton.
Mr. Potts died Sunday, March 3, 2019 in a Belton Nursing Home.
Roy Cochran Potts affectionately known as “Potts” to many was born on March,7 1927 along with his twin brother Arthur Neale to Roy Campbell & Ruth Neale Potts. Roy lived in Belton, Texas his entire life except for his duty to his country in World War II and years in college. Roy graduated from Belton High School in 1944 then became the loudest and proudest member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 1948.
He put his education on hold to serve in the United States Navy. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he completed his coursework and graduated with a business degree in 1948. Upon graduating, he returned to Belton to join the family business Cochran, Blair & Potts. Roy wore many different hats at the family business: salesman, buyer, owner and President until he retired in 1998. He met the love of his life, Dorotha Jean Gray, married in 1949 and raised 3 children, Rob, Patty & John.
Roy was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Member of the Belton Lions Club serving as President in 1965. Charter member of the Bell county Sportsman’s Club. Director of First National Bank of Belton and Peoples National Bank of Belton. He was involved in the Texas Retailers Association and served as a director. He served on the Board of Directors for the Belton Housing Authority. He was the winner of multiple gold Medals at the Senior Olympics in swimming.
Roy loved people well and truly wanted to know about people’s lives. It didn’t matter who you were, he had the gift of making everyone feel as though they were the most important person in the world. On any given day, the town of Belton would see Potts heading to either morning coffee, going to swim, fishing on Lake Belton or see the daily happenings of Cochran, Blair & Potts of course in his Ford van with his license plate that simply stated Belton.
He had a great love for the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing and hunting on the family deer lease. The deer lease was the perfect combination of outdoors and family time, two of his favorite things. When his children were young, his summer days were spent teaching his children to water ski, grilling and hanging out on the family barge. His love for the outdoors also extended to countless family & friend ski trips and vacations to the Gulf Coast. He also had a great love for the latest technology, whether it was the latest PalmPilot or iPhone he always had a good technology question for his grandkids.
He enjoyed many social events in around Belton, including the 4th of July Parade, picnic lunches and the rodeo. He and his wife always were welcoming people into their home. They would host a Wednesday night Bridge Club that later turned into a Dinner Club because they ate more than they played cards. Another longstanding and important event he participated in was his bi-monthly dominoes games. For more than 60 years, his twin brother Arthur Neale and long time friends Bob Carlisle and Doc Ballard would play dominoes and shoot the bull. He also looked forward to weekly trips to Whataburger with Dr. Jack Lamb. You could find he and his wife regularly attending sporting events to cheer on their beloved Aggies and Crusaders. There wasn’t a sweet treat that he didn’t like, even until his last waking moments on this earth he was requesting a Dairy Queen Blizzard.
He leaves a legacy with his family as well as the community. He & his wife, Jean, would see a need in the community and act on it. With his love of swimming he noticed a need for students to share his passion hence the Roy & Jean Potts Swim Center on Belton ISD High School Campus. The University of Mary Harding Baylor acknowledged their support and generous contributions by the dedication of Potts Plaza in 2005.
Preceded in death by his parents and wife.
He is survived by his twin brother, Arthur Neale. His children, Rob and wife Brenda of Belton, Patricia Jean Wilson and husband Bobby of Salado, TX, John and wife Robin of Belton. Grandchildren Bill Wilson wife Meredith daughter Gianna & son Billy Jr. of Jarrell, TX, Becky Wilson Mariante and husband Tony son Hunter daughters Anya & Emry son Hunter of Holland, TX, Kristy Jean Potts Demers and husband Jeremy sons Ian and Pierce of Austin, TX, Robert Roy Potts, Jr and wife Ashley son Grayson of Belton, Michael Keith Potts and wife Julia daughter Maddox of Belton, Matthew Potts of Austin, TX and Brandon Potts of Austin, TX
