
Paul Edwin Potter was born on August 30, 1925, in Springfield, Ohio. His fascination with geology began early, sparked by the rocks and fossils he discovered on his family’s farm in Clermont County, Ohio. After serving in the U.S. Army in the Philippines during World War II, Paul pursued his passion academically, earning degrees in geology from the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago, where he completed both his Master’s and Ph.D.
Paul’s career began at the Illinois State Geological Survey, one of four state geological surveys he would be affiliated with during his lifetime—including those in Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. In 1963, he joined the faculty at Indiana University, where he was promoted to full professor in 1966. He returned to his home state of Ohio in 1971 to join the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Geology.
Although he formally retired in 1992, Paul remained deeply engaged in academia. He continued teaching and advising students at the University of Cincinnati and extended his impact internationally, sharing his expertise through teaching engagements in Brazil, Mexico, and Indonesia.
Dr. Potter made lasting contributions to the geological sciences through his research, teaching, and publications. He was a leading authority on sandstones and shales, authoring influential textbooks and papers that helped shape modern understanding of basin sedimentation and stratigraphy. He was also among the early pioneers in using geophysical logs to interpret subsurface stratigraphy—work that proved valuable to both petroleum exploration and groundwater management in Ohio.
Paul Edwin Potter passed away on July 4, 2020, at the age of 94, leaving behind a legacy of scientific insight, mentorship, and international collaboration.

Dr. Paul Edwin Potter established a generous bequest to support summer internships at each of the State Geological Surveys where he built his distinguished career—Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. His vision was to create meaningful opportunities for high school, college, and post-graduate master’s students to engage directly in the public-serving geologic work carried out by these institutions. Through this program, he hoped to inspire the next generation of geologists and foster a deeper appreciation for the role of state surveys in advancing geoscience for the public good.
Sources of information referenced for this short biography:
Angle, M., 2021, Pioneers of Ohio Geology: Paul E. Potter. Ohio Department of Natural Resources newsletter, 4 pages. https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/ohiodnr.gov/documents/geology/OhioGeologyNews_PaulEPotter_20210512.pdf
Indiana Geological and Water Survey, 2025, Paul Edwin Potter Internship. Indiana University. https://igws.indiana.edu/about/internship
Kentucky Geological Survey, 2025, The Paul Edwin Potter Internship Program. University of Kentucky. https://www.uky.edu/KGS/intern/
Maynard, J.B., C. Dietsch, and D. Sturmer, undated, Paul E. Potter: His Years at Cincinnati, Interwoven with the IL, IN, OH, and KY State Surveys. Department of Geology, University of Cincinnati, OH, 26 pages. https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2021NC/webprogram/Handout/Paper362778/Paul%20E%20Potter%20GSA.pdf
TP White and Sons Funeral Home, 2020, Obituary: Paul Potter, August 30, 1925 – July 4, 2020. https://www.tpwhite.com/obituaries/paul-potter