John Potts
Sports Multimedia Journalist
Quincy, Illinois
John, a Quincy native, enjoyed a 38-year career over four different tenures with WGEM’s newsgathering partners at the Herald-Whig, where he served as a sportswriter, copy desk editor and page designer. He started at the newspaper as a sports clerk while in high school in 1973 and retired in August 2018.
John also worked for the Tulsa World in 1979 and served as the director of public relations at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo., from 2003-2006. He also worked as a paraprofessional in the special ed/autism program at Baldwin School in Quincy.
John is a 1975 graduate of Quincy High School and a 1979 graduate of Quincy College, now Quincy University, with a bachelor's degree in communications arts. He was the first recipient of the Thomas A. Oakley I and II Scholarship to QC in 1975.
He lives in Quincy with his wife Kelly and son Troy.
In May, Associate Athletic Director Kielsmeier asked Rabe to meet her in the gym so she could share her vision of what a reimagined Pepsi Arena could look like.
The school day in the fall of 1975 started just like any other for Jim Citro.
It’s no coincidence the NCAA Div. II Midwest Regional volleyball tournament looks a lot like a Great Lakes Valley Conference private party.
The feel-good story of University of Missouri running back Cody Schrader has not gone unnoticed by Quincy University football coach Gary Bass.
Jim Wisman, the former Quincy High All-American, experienced a range of highs and lows during his four years playing basketball at Indiana University under Coach Bob Knight.
For Quincy Notre Dame’s football team to continue a special season, it may come down to its special teams.
Mike Hanks had an uneasy but familiar feeling in his stomach when he found out Bobby Knight had died.
Talented QHS receiving corps offers a smorgasbord of choices.
When Arizona pitcher Brandon Pfaadt starts Game 3 of the World Series on Monday night, several former Quincy University baseball players will be watching with more than just a passing interest.
Even though they are a 16th seed in their half of the bracket, the Raiders will be coming to play.
As the Quincy High football team was preparing for the 1935 season, President Franklin D. Roosevelt was signing an important piece of legislation.
Coming to QU Stadium for a 1 p.m. Saturday game is the University of Indianapolis, otherwise known as the Goliath of the GLVC.
In 1974 the Spirits of St. Louis and the Memphis Sounds played an exhibition game before 1,700 fans in the city of Mark Twain’s boyhood home.
When Richardson speaks of the Hawks hopes for a banner season, it’s not with an obnoxious braggodocious but with a rock-solid confidence expected from one of the team’s veteran leaders.
Riley Martin is a member of Tennessee Smokies which captured the Southern League baseball championship last week.
Greg Reis has never been one who played or coached soccer for accolades and milestones.
When Rick Little attended St. Louis Rams training camps in Macomb during the early 2000s, he probably never dreamed he’d be coaching a prolific high school offense someday.
In five short years, Mark Jones has taken the Quincy University volleyball program from the depths of the Great Lakes Valley Conference to one of the top teams in the country.
“It’s not often you get a Hall of Fame coach to take time out of their schedule right before the season begins, but Coach Izzo isn’t your average coach,” Hawkins said.
Rupcich, the former Culver-Stockton College offensive tackle, was added to the Tennessee Titans practice squad on Wednesday for the second straight season.
Former Quincy High pitcher Mike Weiss started and won the last game ever played by the Quincy Cubs on Aug. 30, 1973.
Local college basketball fans will get a chance to hear firsthand stories from the legendary Michigan State coach when he comes to Quincy for a speaking engagement in September.
Being a seller at the Major League Baseball trade deadline was new territory for the St. Louis Cardinals.
What started as an intriguing whim, has turned into a rewarding life experience for Caitlin Erickson.
When Skylar Thompson made the Miami Dolphins roster as the No. 3 quarterback last September, even he couldn’t envision the road ahead.
After winning two Super Bowl rings and an AFC championship with the Kansas City Chiefs, Saunders signed a three-year, $14.5 million contract in March with the New Orleans Saints to further his National Football League career.
Andrew Rupcich hopes he’s finished with his pro football apprenticeship.
BJ Wilson knows he’s battling the NFL odds. But he’s up for the fight.
The former Quincy Notre Dame and Quincy University standout will participate in The Basketball Tournament, a national single-elimination, 64-team tourney with a $1 million winner-take-all prize for the last team standing.
Gockel, a hard-throwing right-hander who spent his grad season with the Hawks, was selected in the ninth round (pick No. 264) by the Angels.
When Ashlyn Akerson returned to practice at the Gem City Gymnastics and Tumbling Center Wednesday, she carried with her a new title: National Champion.
STUNT is one of the fastest growing women’s sports in the country and expands the participation opportunities for women to use their cheerleading background.
Local basketball fans who flock to high school gyms across the area during the cold winter months are probably unaware of the strenuous work put in during hot summer months.
Porter and crew put on a show as the Trailblazers made 18 of their first 20 field-goal attempts and shot 71 percent from the field in racing to a 49-33 halftime lead.
Area youngsters can receive that opportunity when the Cardinals Kids Clinics return to Quincy on Thursday, June 22.
Herm Senor II never had any doubt that Max Strus of the Miami Heat would be where he is today.
ooming bats and intelligence on the basepaths offer a nice 1-2 offensive punch for the Quincy Notre Dame baseball team.
f you asked the Quincy University pitching staff, they would agree that 72% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water and the rest is covered by center fielder Brock Boynton.
Quincy University pitcher Spencer Walker will start Thursday's NCAA Tournament game for the Hawks.
QHS Hall of Fame members have an opportunity to buy their original display boards.
When breaking down the regular season for the Quincy High girls soccer team, it’s obvious there were three distinct segments.
Dorsey felt like so many Cardinals fans did early Sunday afternoon when news of Shannon's death at 83.
In a way, local Chicago Bears fans can relate to how the Munchkins felt when they got news the Wicked Witch of the West was dead.
QU's offensive tackle will be waiting to hear if he was selected in this weekend’s NFL Draft in Kansas City or gets offered a free-agent deal if he isn’t drafted.
Those who remember Tanner Stuckman from his basketball playing days in high school and college in Quincy might be surprised to learn this.
Rasaan Hall will be one of 11 individuals inducted into the Quincy University Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Eva Dickerman was searching for the right word when trying to describe the three decades success of the Quincy Notre Dame girls soccer program under Coach Mark Longo.
