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Colonel William D. Potter

May 29, 2025
Categories: 
HING History, People

Born June 16th 1878, Manchester, NH

Died not known

Potter served in the US infantry during the Spanish American war and in the quartermaster corps from 1919 to 1920.

He was a public School Teacher and Superintendent and a Businessman before entering active service in the Army. He was stationed in Hawaii as the assistant to the Departmental Quartermaster, U.S. Army. In December 1920 he was appointed Commanding Officer 1st Infantry, Hawaii National Guard and then made Adjutant General in February 1921. There is no record of any occupation in Hawaii other than his military career.

He resigned in July 1923 to return to California to enter into business.

Last updated October 1965

Hawaii’s AG Past to Present

Col. William D. Potter Feb. 9, 1921 - July 3, 1923
Col. William D. Potter
Feb. 9, 1921 – July 3, 1923
(Picture from the 1982 Summer Pūpūkahi)

You wouldn’t call the next adjutant general a real kamaʻāina. William D. Potter was born in New Hampshire in 1878. He joined the Army, serving as an infantryman in the Spanish-American War. He came to Hawaii around 1920 as assistant to the Departmental Quartermaster, U.S. Army.

In December 1920, he took over command of the Hawaii National Guard’s 1st Infantry. In 1921, he took over as adjutant general. When 1923 rolled around, Dunning retired, moved to California, and entered business. He apparently did die, but we don’t have the date.

– 1982 Summer Pūpūkahi pp. 3