William Everett Potter | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 12th Governor of the Panama Canal Zone | |
| In office 1956–1960 | |
| Preceded by | John States Seybold |
| Succeeded by | William Arnold Carter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 July 1905 Oshkosh, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | 5 December 1988 (aged 83) Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Resting place | Woodlawn Memorial Park, Orlando |
| Awards | |
| Nickname | Joe |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1928–1960 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands |
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| Battles/wars | |
William Everett Potter (17 July 1905 – 5 December 1988) was an American engineer and military officer who served as Governor of the Panama Canal Zone from 1956 to 1960. He was also involved in the logistics of the 1964 New York World's Fair and the construction of Walt Disney World.
A 1928 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and a 1933 graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Potter served in Nicaragua, where he helped survey a route for the Nicaraguan Canal. As an assistant to the Chief Engineer of the Pittsburgh Engineer District, he was in charge of the construction of the Tygart Dam in West Virginia and the Emsworth Locks and Dam in Pennsylvania.
During World War II, Potter served in the G-3 section of the European Theater of Operations, United States Army (ETOUSA) as the executive officer of the Psychological Warfare Division, which he helped to establish. In February 1944 he became the chief of the Planning and Operations Branch of the G-4 section. In this role he was responsible for aspects of the planning of American logistics in the Normandy campaign. He played an important part in the creation of the Red Ball Express.
After the war he commanded the Missouri River and Alaska Districts and the Missouri River Division. Projects he oversaw included the Garrison Dam, Gavins Point Dam, Tuttle Creek Lake and the Big Bend Dam. He retired from the Army in 1960 with the rank of major general and joined Walt Disney Corporation in 1964. He became a Disney Legend in 1997, and one of the three ferries that transport guests across the Seven Seas Lagoon was re-christened General Joe Potter in his honor.