- Name
- Sam Potter
- Position
- Guard
- Class
- Junior
- Hometown (Last School)
- Kona, KY
- Ht
- 6'1"
- Seasons
- 1933-34, 1934-35
- Birthday
- March 17, 1914
Sam Potter was born Samuel Potter on March 17, 1914, in Millstone (in Letcher County), Kentucky, to Robert May Potter and Ellen Rose Potter.
He was a remarkable athlete and educator who left a lasting legacy in both sports and education. Standing at 6 feet 1 inch tall, Potter was known for his versatility and dedication on and off the court.
Potter’s athletic journey began at Whitesburg High School in Letcher County, Kentucky, where he gained nationwide attention in 1931 when Ripley’s Believe It or Not featured him as the nation’s leading football scorer. He scored an impressive 234 points in nine games for an unbeaten Whitesburg High School team. His exceptional performance in high school sports made him a standout athlete.
In the early 1930s, Potter joined the University of Kentucky Wildcats, where he excelled in both football and basketball. He played on the freshman football and basketball teams in 1932-33. He lettered in football in 1934 and 1935 and in basketball in 1934. Potter suffered a recurring knee injury in a loss to Ohio State on October 5, 1935, missed two games then injured his knee again against Tulane on November 16, 1935. This prevented a return to basketball. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social studies in 1936.
After graduating, Potter worked for a credit firm and a manufacturing business in Charleston, West Virginia. He later transitioned into education, teaching social studies and coaching several sports at Lynch High School in Harlan, Kentucky from 1944 to 1953. Potter’s coaching career was marked by success, with his Lynch football teams achieving a record of 76-19-6 and winning 30 consecutive regular-season games from 1951 to 1953. He was named Louisville Courier-Journal Coach of the Year in 1953 and was runner-up the previous year.
Potter’s impact extended beyond coaching. He served as principal of Lynch High School from 1953 to 1960 and as superintendent of the Lynch independent school district from 1960 to 1966. He later became superintendent of Shelbyville independent schools and worked as a construction consultant for Sherman/Carter/Barnhart Architects in Lexington.
Potter, who received a master’s degree from UK in 1955 and did further graduate study in school administration there, was inducted into the Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 1991.
Sam Potter passed away on June 28, 1995, at the age of 81. He was remembered as an outstanding coach, educator, and storyteller who had a way of inspiring people to do their best. Potter’s legacy lives on through his contributions to sports and education in Kentucky.
