Terri Potter was a good friend of mine.
I met him during my freshman year at the University of Illinois when we pledged the SAE fraternity. We roomed together as pledges. We had fun dating girls, playing sports and drinking beer. Terri became president of the fraternity his sophomore year. I flunked out of the University that same year. Terri told me to go to class and study for exams. He said he would help me. But I was on to more exciting adventures.
Terri went on to get his masters at the University of Minnesota, then serve in the Navy and retire as a full lieutenant. I still was messing around and figuring out the stuff Terri had attempted to cram into my head. I finally finished a Master of Science degree at Iowa State.
Terri stayed in touch. We both wound up in Madison, Wisconsin. Terri was President/CEO of Meriter, a major health care organization. He hired me to do stuff. We became close friends again.
Terri married a friend of mine, Carla Wilson. I was best man at their wedding. Life was good.
I started a new company, now The Change Companies, and led it for 33 years. I think a little of Terri had rubbed off on me.
Last week Terri Potter, age 77, died of Parkinson’s disease near his loving wife, Carla.
He will be missed by many.
I am one of them.