Richard Thomas Potter (1915 - 2009)

Born 20 Jan 1915 in Belleville, Hastings, Ontario, Canada

Husband of Enid Grace (Weaver) Potter — married 1940 in Ontario, Canada

Died 16 Feb 2009 at age 94 in Oakville, Halton, Ontario, Canada

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joachim Hawn [send private message]

Biography

RICHARD THOMAS POTTER was born on January 20, 1915, at Belleville, Hastings, Ontario, Canada

MAYORS OF THE CITY OF BELLEVILLE

A story of the Mayors of Belleville

Ontario, 1850-2003,

with some associated genealogy

and 19th & 20th century advertisements.

Dr. Donald Brearley

Published by the Quinte Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, 2011

Last update: August 2016

Mayors of the City of Belleville, Ontario, 1850-2003

by Dr. Donald Brearley

______________________________________________

POTTER, Richard Thomas M.D. (1915-2009)

Served as Mayor of Belleville 1951

Richard Thomas Potter was born on January 20, 1915 in Belleville. He was educated locally and attended Queen's University from which institution he graduated as a Physician in 1939

Mayors of the City of Belleville, Ontario, 1850-2003 by Dr. Donald Brearley

________________________________________________________

© 2011-2016, Quinte Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society,

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~canqbogs/

He immediately enlisted as a military medic in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps and used his experience and expertise as a doctor to treat soldiers who were injured as a result of battles they fought in Europe. He served in an advance mobile unit to care for the injured of war; at the time of discharge he held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Dr. Potter returned to Belleville following his military service and worked as a family doctor and anesthetist. In 1950 he entered municipal politics when he was elected as Alderman in Belleville and ran for Mayor and was elected to that office in 1951, running on a campaign promise to establish a municipal health unit and expand community facilities.

On redistribution, Dr. Potter successfully ran for Member of Provincial Parliament in 1967 as the Progressive Conservative candidate in Quinte. During the eight years he served as M.P.P. for Quinte, he held three ministerial positions: Minister without portfolio, Minister of Health from 1972 to 1974, and Minister of Correctional Services until 1975. It was said that ‘Dr. Potter had been a MASH colonel and treated the ministry as if he was a wartime commander. He was honest, intelligent and determined to bring his ideas to the ministry such as having insured nursing home care as a lower-cost alternative to hospitals. He served from October 17, 1967, to September 17, 1975

He decided to retire from politics at the age of 60 in 1975 having brought some badly needed changes in the health and welfare departments. In 1976 he was appointed as regional coroner which required him to close his private medical practice and serve as a full-time public servant.

Genealogy:

He was survived by his wife of 68 years, the former

ENID GRACE WEAVER, and four children:

THOMAS

FRANCES

ANDREW and

KAREN ENID

The grandfather of eleven and great grandfather of four. There is Dr. Richard Potter Park in the S.W. section of the city.

Dr. Richard Thomas Potter died at the Oakville Hospital on February 16, 2009.

_____________________

THE INTELLIGENCER

https://www.intelligencer.ca/page/3?s=Mayor+Richard+Potter

Obituary Notice for Richard Thomas POTTER

POTTER, Dr. Richard Thomas - entered into rest at the Oakville Trafalgar Hospital on Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Beloved husband of Enid Grace Weaver for 68 years.

Loving father of Tom Potter, Frances (Peter) Stone, Andy (Sue) Potter, and Karen (Tom) Anderson.

He will be sadly missed by all his 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Born in Belleville (1915), he graduated from Queens University Medical School in 1939.

He served in WW II from 1939-1945 commanding a Mobile Hospital Unit, leaving with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

He returned to practice medicine in Belleville where he became Mayor in 1951.

From 1967-1975, he was an MPP in the Conservative Government as Minister of Health and Minister of Correctional Services. A heartfelt thank you to staff of Delmanor Glen Abbey and Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital for their care and sensitivity during this difficult time.

Arrangements entrusted to the JOHN R. BUSH FUNERAL HOME, 80 Highland Ave., Belleville (613-968-5588). Online condolences can be made at www.quintefuneralcentres.com

In lieu of flowers, a donation to Doctors Without Borders would be appreciated.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Published on February 20, 2009

Obituary published in

THE INTELLIGENCER

________________________________

Kerrie-Lee Clarke May 20, 2009

Dr. Potter led an exemplary life and left a remarkable legacy. His role in the development of the McMaster Medical program in the 1960s was one of the major accomplishments. More than anything, I recall his kindness, his generosity, his positive approach to life and his determination to make the world a better place which he indeed did. I am personally grateful for the support he gave me as a lifelong family friend and physician (my father was Bill Meagher).

______________________________________

Ernie Parsons Feb 24, 2009

I am saddened to learn of the loss to the world of Dr. Potter. He served as my role model and inspiration during my years as MPP, and was one of those rare individuals who left the world a much better place as a result of his commitment to our community, province, and country.

DR. RICHARD THOMAS POTTER on wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Potter_(Canadian_politician)

Richard Thomas Potter (January 20, 1915 – February 16, 2009) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1967 to 1975 who represented the eastern Ontario riding of Quinte.

He served as a cabinet minister in the government of Bill Davis. en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Richard_Potter_(Canadian_politician)

Richard Potter (Canadian politician)–Wikipedia

_______________________________________________

RICHARD POTTER (Canadian politician)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Richard Thomas Potter Ontario MPP

In office 1967–1975

Preceded by……New riding

Succeeded by….Hugh O'Neil

Constituency…..Quinte

Personal details

Born:…January 20, 1915 Belleville, Ontario

Died:….February 16, 2009 (aged 94) Oakville, Ontario

Political party….Progressive Conservative

Spouse(s)………..Enid Grace Weaver

Children: 4 children

Thomas

Frances

Andrew

Karen

Profession:…Doctor

Portfolio: Minister without portfolio, 1971-1972

Military service:

Allegiance: Canadian

Branch/service: Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps

Years of service: 1939-1945

Rank:.....Lieutenant Colonel

Richard Thomas Potter (January 20, 1915 – February 16, 2009) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1967 to 1975 who represented the eastern Ontario riding of Quinte. He served as a cabinet minister in the government of Bill Davis.

He was educated locally and attended Queen's University from which institution he graduated as a Physician in 1939. He immediately enlisted as a military medic in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps and used his experience and expertise as a doctor to treat soldiers who were injured as a result of battles they fought in Europe. He served in an advance mobile unit to care for the injured of war; at the time of discharge he held the rank of lieutenant colonel. Potter returned to Belleville following his military service and worked as a family doctor and anesthetist.

He married Enid Grace Weaver and together they raised four children

Politics

In 1950 he entered municipal politics when he was elected as Alderman in Belleville and ran for Mayor and was elected to that office in 1951, running on a campaign promise to establish a municipal health unit and expand community facilities.[1]

In the 1967 provincial election, Potter ran as the Progressive Conservative candidate in Quinte. He defeated Ronald Joss of the Liberal party by 4,092 votes.[2] He was re-elected in 1971.[3] In 1971, when Bill Davis became Premier, he appointed Potter to cabinet as a Minister without portfolio.[4] A year later he was promoted to Minister of Health.[5] In 1974 he was shuffled to Minister of Correctional Services.

Cabinet positions

Ontario Provincial Government of Bill Davis

Cabinet posts (2)

Predecessor………Office……………Successor

Syl Apps…Minister of Correctional Services

…………………..1974-1975…………John Smith

Bert Lawrence….Minister of Health

……….……………….1972-1974……Frank Miller

Later life

He decided to retire from politics at the age of 60 in 1975 having brought some badly needed changes in the health and welfare departments. In 1976 he was appointed as regional coroner which required him to close his private medical practice and serve as a full-time public servant.[7] He died in Oakville, Ontario after he and his wife moved to a nursing home to be closer to their grandchildren.[1]

References

Ellsworth, Barry (February 21, 2009). "Former city mayor dies". Belleville Intelligencer.

Canadian Press (October 18, 1967). "Tories win, but..." The Windsor Star. Windsor, Ontario. p. B2.

"Riding-by-riding returns in provincial election". The Globe and Mail. October 23, 1971. p. 10.

Manthorpe, Jonathan; Slinger, John (March 2, 1971). "Changes in policies promised: Davis priorities to include environment and jobless". The Globe and Mail. p. 1.

"The Cabinet for Ontario". The Globe and Mail. February 3, 1972. p. 4.

Dunlop, Marilyn (February 27, 1974). "The new cabinet lines up like this". The Toronto Star. p. A3.

"Second term: Potter is appointed Belleville coroner". The Globe and Mail. September 8, 1976. p. 4.

External links

Ontario Legislative Assembly parliamentary history

Categories: 1915 births2009 deaths Mayors of Belleville, Ontario Members of the Executive Council of

Ontario Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario MPPs

Canadian coroners

REFERENCES

http://www.intelligencer.ca/2009/02/21/former-city-mayor-dies

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/members/members_all_detail.do?locale=en&ID=1716

https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TDM_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=VVEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3673,2835192

Sources