OQHA PAST PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS HALL OF FAME MEMBER ALAN POTTS PASSES

It is with heavy hearts that the Ohio Quarter Horse Association announces the passing of Alan R. Potts of Coschocton, on Sunday, December 10, 2023.

Alan was born in Morgan County, Ohio on November 11, 1934 to the late Charles Elmer and Jessie (Fitch) Potts. He was a 1952 graduate of Pennsville High School and worked at Malta Manufacturing in Malta, Ohio before moving to Coschocton. He was employed at General Electric for 39 years and retired from there in 1995.

Alan was a very accomplished horseman, beginning in his childhood. His first horse, Vicky, was a paint horse in the 1940s and the first 4-H horse project in Morgan County. He learned to rope from his brother, which led to him competing and eventually training horses for himself and others to compete in calf roping, reining, western pleasure, and AQHA racing. He and Kaye raised, trained, and show Mohawk Buck, the first American Quarter Horse Association World Champion western pleasure horse in 1959. Alan later went on to judge for the National Reining Horse Association. He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and a life member of the US Team Roping Championships. In 1960, he served as president of the Ohio Quarter Horse Association, as well as serving on every standing committee at one time or another. He was involved with the All American Quarter Horse Congress from its inception, as well as being a Tri-Chairman of the Congress for many years. Prior to COVID, he had attended every Congress held. Locally, he was a member of the Coschocton County Saddle Club, and an original member of the Coshocton County Sheriff's Mounted Deputies. 

He is survived by his wife Kaye (Bechtol) Potts, whom he married on November 29, 1955. Together they were parents of three daughters; Alana (David) Lapp of Coshocton, DeeAnn Waters of Belton, Texas, and Elaine Bryant of Coshocton; seven grandchildren Michelle Lapp, Jennifer (Jason) Massie, Stephanie (Pat) Snyder, Calvin (Elizabeth) Waters, Tyler Waters, Griffin (Rachel) Bryant and Austin Bryant; nine great grandchildren Luke, Layton, and Laramie Massie, Archie and Penny Snyder, Emma Kaye, Zane and Wyatt Waters, and Beck Bryant. Also surviving are nephews, Alan (Joyice) Childs and their son Jesse Childs and Phil (TeriLynne) Childs and their children Colby (Brent) Schmitt and Colton Childs.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his three brothers Claire, Donald, and Ralph Potts; one sister Gladya Childs Long; three great grandchildren Addy and Grady Snyder, and Clara Ruth Waters.

Alan was blessed with friends across the country from many different walks of life and enjoyed keeping those relationships active by telephone up until his last days.

A Celebration of Life for Alan will be held at The Miller Funeral Home, 639 Main Street, Coshocton on January 21, 2024 from 1-3pm, with a memorial service beginning at 3pm. Interment of his cremated remains will take place at a later date in South Lawn Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Snyder Strong Scholarship Fund, C/O The Coshocton Foundation, P.O. Box 55, Coshocton, Ohio 43812. This scholarship is in memory of Addy and Grady Snyder and is awarded to graduating River View seniors planning to enter any aspect of the medical field.

An online memorial is located at www.themillerfuneralhome.com