John Potts
Sports Multimedia Journalist
Quincy, Illinois
:no_upscale()/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/gray/a4eff90f-fc6d-42c0-b6e9-1704d97d02ef.png)
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.
Updated: 4 hours ago
|By John Potts
It only took former Hannibal High School basketball star Dezi Jones three days to find a new home.
Updated: Mar. 23, 2023 at 5:48 PM CDT
|By John Potts
The social room at Curtis Creek Retirement Community center was filled with nothing but smiles and laughter Thursday afternoon.
Updated: Mar. 17, 2023 at 9:08 AM CDT
|By John Potts
As Luke Napleton circled the bases for the fifth time in three days, he was feeling pretty good.
Updated: Mar. 16, 2023 at 9:13 AM CDT
|By John Potts
Former WIU and Kansas City defensive tackle Khalen Saunders signed with the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday.
Updated: Mar. 8, 2023 at 3:08 PM CST
|By John Potts
Spraker flew from Tampa, Fla., on Monday to Great Britain’s training site in Phoenix, Ariz.
Updated: Mar. 6, 2023 at 2:49 PM CST
|By John Potts
Sixty-one years ago last week Wilt Chamberlain set the single-game scoring record in the NBA.
Updated: Mar. 1, 2023 at 3:26 PM CST
|By John Potts
hree members of the Quincy University men’s and women’s basketball teams were recognized with postseason honors by the Great Lakes Valley Conference on Wednesday
Updated: Mar. 1, 2023 at 2:49 PM CST
|By John Potts
The wait is almost over for Jamaurie Coakley and the Quincy University men’s basketball team.
Updated: Feb. 27, 2023 at 3:14 PM CST
|By John Potts
Nelson, QU women climb into GLVC postseason.
Updated: Feb. 20, 2023 at 11:33 AM CST
|By John Potts
Since Reuschel’s best years were before 1980, he’ll have to wait until December 2024 to be considered by the Hall of Fame’s Classic Baseball Era Committee and that’s provided he’s on the ballot.
Updated: Feb. 14, 2023 at 12:55 PM CST
|By John Potts
Jim Pollihan, one of the most decorated players in the history of Quincy University who later went on to play a prominent role in United States soccer, has died.
Updated: Feb. 10, 2023 at 10:02 AM CST
|By John Potts
Reliving the memories of that special day in February 10 years ago when Cornell won a Super Bowl ring with the Baltimore Ravens brought a huge smile to his face.
Updated: Feb. 9, 2023 at 11:01 AM CST
|By John Potts
We ask three local head football coaches to predict who will win and the final score.
Updated: Feb. 8, 2023 at 10:39 AM CST
|By John Potts
The WIU community is swelling with pride as one of their own will be appearing in the Super Bowl for the third time.
Updated: Feb. 7, 2023 at 1:02 PM CST
|By John Potts
There are lofty preseason expectations for the Hawks and rightfully so with their sights firmly set on a berth in the World Series.
Updated: Jan. 30, 2023 at 11:03 AM CST
|By John Potts
Here’s a little trivia quiz to test the knowledge of the most ardent Blue Devils fan.
Updated: Jan. 26, 2023 at 11:42 AM CST
|By John Potts
With Tuesday’s election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the long wait for Scott Rolen finally came to a happy conclusion.
Updated: Jan. 24, 2023 at 11:50 AM CST
|By John Potts
If you would ask Hoyt about his success, he would credit his assistant coaches and players -- as well as his family.
Updated: Jan. 19, 2023 at 11:03 AM CST
|By John Potts
Former Culver-Stockton College offensive lineman Andrew Rupcich spent the 2022 NFL season with the Tennessee Titans practice squad.
Updated: Jan. 18, 2023 at 11:54 AM CST
|By John Potts
Notes and quotes from the first Cardinals Winter Warmup in three years.
Updated: Jan. 12, 2023 at 1:39 PM CST
|By John Potts
QU's Sarah Nelson is averaging 12.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game for the Hawks, who host Rockhurst Thursday at Pepsi Arena.
Updated: Jan. 11, 2023 at 2:02 PM CST
|By John Potts
It appears the Miami Dolphins are going to ride with rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson in Sunday’s AFC Wild Card game against the Buffalo Bills.
Updated: Jan. 8, 2023 at 9:04 PM CST
|By John Potts
If you told Skylar Thompson back in September that he would be leading the Miami Dolphins to a crucial Week 18 victory and a berth in the NFL postseason, he most likely would have thought you were crazy.
Updated: Jan. 6, 2023 at 4:01 PM CST
|By John Potts
With a possible berth in the NFL playoffs on the line Sunday, the Miami Dolphins will turn to rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson.
Updated: Jan. 6, 2023 at 7:20 AM CST
|By John Potts
Quincy University whipped Truman State 85-74 in a Great Lakes Valley Conference game at Pershing Arena.
Updated: Jan. 4, 2023 at 3:51 PM CST
|By John Potts
Football, by its very nature of contact, seems to create a band of brothers mentality, more so than other sports.
Updated: Dec. 30, 2022 at 2:43 PM CST
|By John Potts
Quincyan Mario Camacho was slapped in the face by Pele during an exhibition game in 1973.
Updated: Dec. 29, 2022 at 5:23 PM CST
|By John Potts
There was a time in Quincy when the holiday season meant Christmas Day presents, New Year's Eve toasts -- and yes, basketball.
Updated: Dec. 22, 2022 at 11:51 AM CST
|By John Potts
As they head into the Christmas break, the QND coach and six of his players talk about their favorite family holiday memories.
Updated: Dec. 20, 2022 at 10:02 AM CST
|By John Potts
Brock Purdy was a teammate of former Quincy High standout Jirehl Brock at Iowa State. Purdy is undefeated in three starts as the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback.
Updated: Dec. 19, 2022 at 4:30 PM CST
|By John Potts
The annual Illinois-Missouri rivalry has always held a special interest for local basketball fans on both sides of the Mississippi River.
Updated: Dec. 16, 2022 at 1:03 PM CST
|By John Potts
QU Coach Steve Hawkins said he had no doubt Shockey would drain the game-winner for the Hawks, who are 3-3 in six games decided by six points or less.
Updated: Dec. 8, 2022 at 11:37 AM CST
|By John Potts
The deal will be finalized in the coming days after Contreras, 30, passes a physical.
Updated: Dec. 1, 2022 at 2:53 PM CST
|By John Potts
Former QC basketball standout recalls day Hawks were introduced to future NBA Hall of Famer Bob Lanier
Updated: Nov. 28, 2022 at 4:53 PM CST
|By John Potts
Hummel, a 1964 Quincy High School graduate who has never forgotten his local ties, will retire Wednesday after a 51-year career at the newspaper.
Updated: Nov. 23, 2022 at 6:35 AM CST
|By John Potts
Playing on Thanksgiving evening is a tradition that's been around Blue Devil Gym since 1971
Updated: Nov. 18, 2022 at 11:16 AM CST
|By John Potts
Five former and current offensive linemen with local ties were asked about their "signature moment" and what it takes to be an offensive lineman.
Updated: Nov. 17, 2022 at 8:22 AM CST
|By John Potts
Last March when he was hired for his second stint as Quincy University men's basketball coach, Steve Hawkins knew the day would come when he would return to the sideline at Pepsi Arena.
Updated: Nov. 14, 2022 at 4:24 PM CST
|By John Potts
Top-seeded Quincy University hosts eighth-seeded Northern Michigan at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Pepsi Arena in the NCAA Div. II Midwest Regional Volleyball Tournament.
Updated: Nov. 8, 2022 at 4:49 PM CST
|By John Potts
Quincy University linebacker Peyten Chappel is three tackles shy of becoming the program's all-time leader.
Updated: Nov. 1, 2022 at 4:53 PM CDT
|By John Potts
The countless hours of early-morning weightlifting, the monotonous hours spent watching films and the grueling two-a-day practices in the furnace-like temperatures of August paid off for Quincy University’s BJ Wilson.
Updated: Oct. 29, 2022 at 3:28 PM CDT
|By John Potts
Zion Richardson said he was so locked in mentally the thought he was playing his first competitive basketball game in three years never occurred to him as he took his position for the opening jump ball.
Updated: Oct. 26, 2022 at 3:43 PM CDT
|By John Potts
Martin with a five-year career at QU was named as the relief pitcher on the Chicago Cubs 2022 All-Star Team.
Updated: Oct. 20, 2022 at 1:33 PM CDT
|By John Potts
Numbers are important to game officials, media and fans, but they often carry a deep personal significance to the player wearing the jersey.
Updated: Oct. 18, 2022 at 2:17 PM CDT
|By John Potts
Deakon Schuette was eating lunch in the Quincy Notre Dame cafeteria when he was approached by Raiders head football coach Jack Cornell.
Updated: Oct. 15, 2022 at 10:59 AM CDT
|By John Potts
Sutter, who eventually learned the split-finger fastball, which led to a Hall of Fame career as one of MLB’s all-time great relief pitchers, died late Thursday.
Updated: Oct. 11, 2022 at 3:46 PM CDT
|By John Potts
A survey of coaches in various sports at the four schools in Quincy seems to support what former President Richard Nixon said in creating National Coaches Day, which was celebrated last week.
Updated: Oct. 9, 2022 at 6:13 PM CDT
|By John Potts
Skylar Thompson’s baptism in the NFL turned out to be more like getting hit by a tidal wave.
Updated: Oct. 7, 2022 at 10:15 AM CDT
|By John Potts
I’ve been a St. Louis Cardinals fan since I was 7 years old, first becoming aware of the team during the 1964 World Series when my maternal grandfather taught me St. Louis was “good” and Chicago was “bad.”
Updated: Oct. 5, 2022 at 3:32 PM CDT
|By John Potts
When starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was injured and then sidelined until he clears NFL concussion protocols, Skylar Thompson moved up from cast member to understudy to veteran Teddy Bridgewater.
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/6JBNF4KYF5FOVPJGSZDPCNTYSY.JPG)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/CTEC5THNDVHARJIPZQ2EUYT4FU.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/SQJMV2IKIVDAXHNS3KKTHWRGFU.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/PAOA5RTSOZF7ZK6OAEM7VFVXEU.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/OWQV6P2Y7JBY5DEHRTEY6JWC4Y.JPG)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/GSWDRAOTTVHRHLND5QYBX5ZZ4Y.jpeg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/POFCRTH2GJHCXNBIL6VWCAUXOU.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/QTUTUJRS2FAXPBOEMCYG6R4VZM.JPG)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/MBWJH6FU3NEENEFSJUQKBWLL5Y.JPG)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/HCRPKUDNVJC43CDX4E4AA7ACSY.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/I3A5PJEBQNH5BGTT2TB7RUGWMQ.jpg)