Thomas Delette Potts, 78, Professor Emeritus of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, died June 4, 2021.
Potts produced and managed an international service program at Clemson University and retired in 2005 after 23 years. He had academic and working partnerships in Slovakia, Turkey and Ecuador. His programs on natural development of hospitality and environmental resources won numerous awards and he received honors throughout his career, including a Fulbright Scholarship in Slovakia, the Strom Thurmond Associate Award, the Leadership Beaufort Award and others.
Potts graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, from University of Southern Mississippi with a master’s degree in Recreation and Parks and from Texas A&M with a doctorate in Recreation Resource Management.
Prior to Clemson, he worked in satellite programs for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and in the U.S. Congress in oceanic technology and space science and applications.
Potts is survived by a daughter, Sarah Potts, a music and language student at Middle Tennessee State; brother Alan Potts of Tallahassee, Florida; sisters Becky Willis from Thomasville, Georgia, and Anne Morris (Glen) from Flagler Beach, Florida; and guardian/companion Marjorie Swindell and his caretaker, Kelly Robin Cook, both of Havana, Florida.
His full obituary is posted online.
