Regent Willis J. Potts to speak at graduation 2008

By Jessica Cox
Assistant Ad Manager
[email protected]

Georgia Highlands College will host its 2008 Graduation Ceremony at the Rome Forum on Saturday, May 10, at 10 am. The speaker for this year's graduation will be Regent Willis J. Potts.

Potts served as the president of the Paper Industry Management Association in 1995 and 1999 and was named a fellow by the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry because of his performance in service in 1999.

He won the Executive Eagle Award in 2002 from the Pulp and Paper Safety Association in recognition of his efforts for safety at his company and even beyond the company. After 35 years in the international pulp industry, Potts retired in 2004 as the vice president and general manager of Rome's Temple-Inland Corporation.

Potts has also been involved with the United Way, The Boy Scouts of America, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Chamber of Commerce and the Communities in Schools mentoring program.

Potts has his bachelor's degree in industrial engineering with highest honors from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He also completed the University of Virginia's Executive Program.

Potts was appointed by Gov. Sonny Perdue to his position on the Board of Regents of the University of Georgia.

Approximately 400 students will graduate May 10.