Biography

Eugene Debbs Potts was born in Buzzard Roost, California was named after the political activist Eugene V. Debs. Many documents record Potts’ date of birth as 1909 or 1910, but Potts himself asserts he was born in 1908 because that’s what was written in his family Bible. His family came to Oregon soon after he was born, and he grew up in Eastern Oregon. He began working in a sawmill at age 12. He served in the Navy during World War II, remaining in the Navy Reserves for nearly 20 years afterward. He later owned sawmills in Grants Pass and the Klamath Falls area, and also founded the town of Pottsville, Oregon. He was a Democratic politician and was elected mayor of Grants Pass in 1958. He then represented Josephine County in the Oregon Senate from 1961 to 1972. After redistricting, he represented Josephine and Jackson counties from 1973 to 1984. He also served as senate president from 1967 to 1970, during which time he temporarily acted as governor when Governor Tom McCall was out of state, totaling 196 days. Potts was appointed by Governor Vic Atiyeh to chair the Oregon Lottery Commission, a position he held from 1985 to 2003. He was married twice. He died in 2003, shortly after retiring from the lottery commission.

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