Chester Potts, Jr.

Chester Arthur Potts, Jr. was born on December 8, 1922 in Henryetta, Oklahoma to Chester A. Potts, Sr. and Zella Genevive Swicegood Potts. He passed away on February 12, 2009.   He was nicknamed “Buddy” by his mother and father and was called this by his wife and grandchildren, as well.  He graduated from Okmulgee High School in 1940, and then continued his schooling at Okmulgee Junior College from 1940 to 1942. Chester enlisted August 28, 1942, in the Army Air Corp., training as a military pilot and flight engineer in both single and multi-engine aircraft.  He was honorably discharged on June 8, 1946.  After his discharge, Chester went back to college, enrolling at the University of Oklahoma on the GI bill.  He graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1947 with a BBA in Marketing.  Chester was a member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity.  Chester married Norma Sue McCulloch on August 27, 1947.  He and his father ran the family owned Oklahoma Sausage Company until June 1957.  In 1958, he established a partnership with Bill Palmer to form Potts-Palmer Co., a beer wholesaler for the Schlitz Beer brand, covering the Northeastern part of Oklahoma.  In 1974, Chester sold the beer business and, for a short length of time, operated his own Century 21 Real Estate office in Tulsa. From 1979 until his retirement in 2004, Chester worked in the oil business.  He was the owner/operator of Champion Energies Co., raising money within the industry for drilling and mineral investments.  He was also instrumental in the promotion and creation of Sooners’ Illustrated magazine.  He held a position on that Board of Directors for several years.

Chester loved aviation and was an avid sportsman, enjoying golfing, hunting and bass fishing.  He taught his son and grandsons these sports and also taught them by example how to work hard, play hard, make friends, and network. Having played the drums in the Okmulgee High School band and later in small combos during college, he grew to have affection for both Dixieland and Big Band music. Chester loved working and connecting with his industry peers, especially each year in Houston at the NAPE convention; his success in life is documented by the close relationships he had with his family, friends and business associates.

Chester is survived by his wife, Norma Sue, who lives in Ardmore; a sister, Maribelle Leeper, of Dallas, Texas; a daughter, Nanette Potts Bramlett, and husband Bobby of Ardmore, and son, David Potts, and wife Linda of Ardmore; grandchildren Jake Bramlett and wife Jennifer of Ardmore, Erin Potts Hofmann and husband Scott of Norman, and Trevor Potts and wife Jaclyn of Oklahoma City; and great-grandchildren, Addison Hofmann and Bryce Bramlett.  Other relatives include Dick and Mary Lou McCulloch Bailey, Okmulgee.

On Monday, Feb. 16^th at 1:00 pm there was a memorial service at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Okmulgee, OK, with burial under the direction of McClendon-Winters Funeral Home to follow at the Okmulgee Memorial Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Research Foundation, West 46^th Street and 12^th Avenue, New York, NY 10036 or Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 N.E. 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104.