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Frank Fraser Potter (1879-1959) was a member of the faculty at Washington State College from 1912 to 1949. He was WSC's first professor of philosophy. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, and taught there and at Transylvania University prior to accepting a position at WSC. Upon his retirement from WSC, he was named Professor Emeritus.

Frank Potter and his wife, Irene, were actively involved in the campus community, and for over 25 years they hosted regular Friday afternoon gatherings at their home for students they encouraged to pursue advanced, competitive scholarly opportunities, particularly Rhodes Scholarships; ten of these students became Rhodes Scholars.

The Frank Fraser Potter Memorial Lecture, an annual event at Washington State University, was established shortly after Frank Potter's death through an anonymous donation from one of his former students.

In 1986, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the memorial lectureship, five of the Rhodes scholars who had been assisted and prepared by the Potters returned to Washington State University to participate in the anniversary program. Birdsall Carle, Robert Clower, Paul Craven, Charles Jepson, and Richard Thompson all participated in a symposium, "How Can We Revive the Potters' Ideals Today?"