In Memoriam: Charles “Charlie” Grier Potts ’53

October 5, 1928 - Sept 11, 2023

Catawba College alumnus and longtime Board of Trustees member Charlie Potts ’53 died on September 11, 2023. At the age of two, Charlie and his brother Jim moved from Florida to live with Mr. and Mrs. John Potts in North Carolina. Uncle Johnny and Aunt Winnie raised the boys in the Steele Creek Community of Mecklenburg County. Graduating from Berry Hill High School, Charlie enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Occupied Japan. Upon his honorable discharge from the military, he chose to enroll at Catawba College, earning a degree in accounting. At Catawba, he played varsity baseball and golf. After graduation, he was employed by Industrial Electric Company, then by La Marick Beauty systems. Eventually he opened his own business, Chaz, Inc. and went on to open eighteen successful salons. He served on the board of directors of the International Chain Salon Association and in leadership positions with the National Salon Owners Association.

He remained an active member of Steele Creek Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, where he served as an elder and on the church’s board of trustees. He was a Mason and a Rotarian, serving on the board of directors and as treasurer of Rotary International. A member of the Carmel Country Club, he also served on its board and as its treasurer.

Charlie served on the Catawba College Alumni Board, then in 1988 was asked to join the Catawba College Board of Trustees where he served with dedication for twenty-eight years, through 2016, upon which he was awarded Trustee Emeritus standing by the Board. He was awarded the O.B. Michael Award in 1996 and the Adrian L. Shuford Award in 2008.

Charlie was a staunch supporter of Catawba College in time, expertise, and finances, consistently contributing to the College’s endeavors over many years, including several capital and endowment campaigns.  the renovation of Shuford Stadium in the early 2000s. He also established the Charles G. Potts First Family Scholarship to benefit Catawba students. The Charles G. Potts Column of the Shuford Stadium was named in his honor, as was the Potts Conference Room in the Hayes Field House.

In 2018, he married Merky (Mary K. C. Ollis), and moved to Laurinburg, NC.  He and Merky continued to be supporters of Catawba and were active members of the Chiefs Club.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Johnny and Winnie Potts, and his brother Jim. Among his loved ones who cherish his memory are his wife Merky, his only child Richard Walker Potts of Stillwater, OK, Bruce and Jane Ollis, Kim and Hans Williamson, and Ron Ollis.