Potters were among the estimated 50,000 people who participated in the 1889 Oklahoma Land Rush, successfully settling in Canadian County.

Nearly 76 years later, Jeff and Barbara Potter made their way to Bartlesville. He was a counselor at Madison Middle School and helped start the cross-country program in Bartlesville Public Schools. She was a math teacher at Central Middle School and is in the BPS Hall of Fame.

The family legacy continues today with Jeff and Barbara Potter’s great-nephew Kevin Potter, who grew up in Oklahoma City. His dad, Jerry, was an Oklahoma Athletic Hall of Fame football coach. His mom, Ezell, was an elementary school teacher. After a successful football career at Putnam City High School, he continued playing football at Cameron University. Upon graduation, Potter moved to Ardmore to work for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The Bartleville Community Foundation has selected the Potter family one of two 2019 Legacy Families. The Potters will be honored at the 12th annual Legacy Hall of Fame Gala on May 18 at the Hilton Garden Inn

While with FCA, Kevin met his future wife Dorea Mitchell, a native of Iowa. She was in Ardmore as a member of the University of Oklahoma golf team. That evening, Mitchell was awarded the Oklahoma Women’s Fellowship of Christian Athlete of the Year. Later, she won the Big 8 Golf Championship and was honored as OU’s Female Athlete of the Year.

After her graduation, the couple married and moved to Monmouth, Ill.. She grew up in a radio family so it’s fitting the Potters owned and operated WMOI and, later, WRAM radio stations.

In November 1996, they purchased KWON and KYFM radio stations. In February 1997, they settled into their new home and immediately became engaged in the community. Since that time, Kevin, Dorea and their family have participated as board members, honorary chairs, committee members, sponsors, founders, and volunteers for more than 59 organizations and causes both locally and statewide.

The couple has three sons, Heath, Kaleb and Brent. All three were born in Illinois before the family made its way back to Oklahoma.

Eldest son Heath graduated from the University of Oklahoma Dental School and now practices in Bartlesville. Heath is married to Chapel Zellers Potter, and they have three daughters, Madelyn, Claire and Nora. After teaching fourth grade at Wilson Elementary, Chapel currently serves a reading specialist tutor.

Middle son Kaleb is vice president of KCD Enterprises Inc. (KWON KYFM KRIG KPGM). He and his wife, Taylor Krebs Potter, co-own SEK Media LLC with Kevin and Dorea and operate KGGF KUSN KQQF in Coffeyville, Kan. Kaleb and Taylor have one daughter, Caroline. Taylor also operates a strategy and innovation consulting company.

Youngest son Brent is married to Nicole Pyatt Potter. They have one son, Brody. Brent is a director for Kanakuk’s KampOut initiative in Branson, Mo., and is a licensed Southern Baptist minister. Nicole is a substitute teacher and works part time for Kanakuk.

Since purchasing KWON and KYFM in 1996, the Potters have established KCD Towers LLC and Potter Towers LLC., and have purchased KRIG (Nowata), KPGM (Pawhuska) and KGGF KUSN KQQF (Coffeyville).

The Potter’s radio family extends to 25 employees in Bartlesville and another 10 in Coffeyville.

Join the Foundation in celebration of the Arutunoffs, the Zervas’s and the Potters on May 18 at Hilton Garden Inn. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Bartlesville Community Foundation at 918-337-2287 or visiting the website www.bartlesvillecf.org.