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To honor, recognize and celebrate the life of civil rights champion and community advocate Mr. Earl Franklin “Wimpy” Potts and to extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends on the occasion of his passing, Wednesday, April 7, 2021.
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WHEREAS, the members of Columbus City Council extend this resolution of expression to honor the life and service of civil rights champion Mr. Earl Potts who passed away on Wednesday, April 7, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Earl Franklin Potts, best known as “Wimpy” was born in Columbus, Ohio on March 5, 1933 - after graduating from West High School, he attended the Ohio State University before joining the United States Army where he became a Corporal and received the prestigious Purple Heart award; and
WHEREAS, Earl married Joan A. Weaver on October 24, 1954 and the two celebrated 66 years of life together - Earl’s 35 years of government service included work with: The Internal Revenue Service, the United States Postal Service with twenty years as a mail carrier on the Hilltop, and service with the Defense Construction Supply Center - Earl established the Hilltop Wildcats amateur baseball team in the late 60’s and that group of men stayed in close contact for more than 50 years; and
WHEREAS, Earl was a dedicated community leader and Civil Rights Activist. Earl was responsible for organizing most civil rights activities in Columbus, including the famed March on Washington with Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1963 - He was instrumental in getting the Columbus City Schools to incorporate the Black History curriculum, and taught it at Ohio State University and Westmoor Middle School in the early 70’s after supporting daughters Deborah and Diane and their schoolmates in peaceful protests at West High and Westmoor Middle School - He was also a loyal “Hilltopper” and youth advocate who lived on the Westside his entire life. Earl founded the Hilltop Civic Council in 1970 and sponsored summer jobs for youth and hel...
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