[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 61 (Tuesday, April 17, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S4593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  IN RECOGNITION OF THE POTTER FAMILY

 Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, today I pay tribute to 
the Potter family, who are being honored with the Family Tree Alumni 
Award from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, UNL. This award was 
established in 1995 for families having at least three generations of 
UNL graduates and at least two family members with a record of 
outstanding service to the university, the alumni association, their 
community and/or their profession.
  This legacy finds its roots in Herb ``Cub'' Potter, Sr., who began 
attending the University of Nebraska in 1910. Herb lettered as a 
quarterback on the dominating ``Stiehm Rollers'' Nebraska football 
teams of 1911, 1912, and 1914. The latter of those teams finished with 
7 wins, 0 losses and 1 tie, which was said to be deserving of the 
mythical national title. At the university, Herb met his wife, Carrie 
Coman, a fellow student and an Alpha Omicron Pi member.
  The two sons of Herb and Carrie Potter, Herb, Jr., and younger 
brother Brooks, became the next generation of Huskers during the early 
1940s. Herb, Jr., graduated in 1943 with a degree in business 
administration and soon married a fellow graduate, Lois Ballantyne, 
class of 1940. Brooks attended the University of Nebraska until he 
enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the onset of World War II. Unfortunately, 
Brooks passed away while serving his country as a member of the 
``greatest generation.''
  Herb, Jr.'s close ties to Nebraska did not end with his graduation. 
He embarked on a career spanning 30 years at the University of Nebraska 
Foundation as secretary/treasurer and later vice president. Upon his 
retirement in 1982, Herb's tenure spanned a period during which the 
foundation grew from a staff of 5 employees and assets of $1 million to 
a staff of 22 and assets of $80 million.
  Herb and Lois passed on the Husker tradition to their two daughters, 
Barbara and Carol. Barbara, class of 1967, met and married Robert 
Reynolds, class of 1971, at Nebraska. Robert went on to serve in the 
U.S. Department of the Interior with distinction for 33 years. In 
recognition of his outstanding contributions to the National Park 
Service, Robert was given the Meritorious Service Award in 1991, the 
second highest award given in the Department of the Interior. Then in 
2000, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award, which is given to 
only 4 out of 20,000 each year.
  Carol, class of 1973, M.S. 1975, also met her husband, Paul Lou, 
class of 1973, M.S. 1976, at the university. Paul has spent the past 25 
years as an instructor teaching a broad range of computer classes at 
Diablo Valley Community College in Pleasant Hill, CA, where he is 
considered one of the most popular teachers.
  From the Ballantyne family, there have been several other Nebraska 
graduates, with the latest being Kevin Zimmerman, a lawyer who is 
currently serving his country in the armed services. Other graduates 
have gone on to become doctors--Doug Peter--teachers--Sandra Peter, Pat 
Kahre and Frank Daily--artists--Joyce Ballantyne and Beverly 
Ballantyne--and business professionals--Byron Ballantyne and Jim Peter.
  Finally, current marching band member Kyle Peter represents the fifth 
generation of the Potter family tree to attend the University of 
Nebraska.
  In addition to this legacy being deep in its years, it is also wide 
in its spread. From 1910 up to the present, there has been a member of 
either the Potter or Ballantyne families affiliated with the University 
of Nebraska during every single decade. What a rich tradition at 
Nebraska.

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