Wheeler Williams

The obverse bears bust of youthful Potter (r.) in uniform. Around, STEPHEN POTTER MEMORIAL MEDAL.

The reverse bears nude, winged female holding wreath and palm frond. To left and right of figure, PHILLIPS / EXETER / ACADEMY / TRACK / VIRTVTE - VIRIBVS QVE.

The medal is edge marked GORHAM CO.

Stephen Potter (1896-1918) was an Exeter alumnus who had the distinction of being the first Navy aviator to shoot down a German seaplane. After graduating from Exeter he went on to Yale where he joined the second Yale unit to enter service in 1917. The World War II destroyer USS Stephen Potter was named in his honor.

While not signed, the medal is atributed to Wheeler Williams. It measures 76mm (3") in diameter and was manufactured by the Gorham Company of Providence, Rhode Island. The mintage is not reported.

The obverse bears a reclining nude couple on a dais above waves with a child between them. Around, ARKANSAS - KANSAS - LOUISIANA - MISSISSIPPI - MISSOURI / OKLAHOMA / TEXAS; below, 1952; signed WW. The reverse bears an image of the Prudential Building in Houston. Around, THE PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY - OF AMERICA; below, SOUTHWESTERN HOME OFFICE.

Wheeler Williams had created a sculpture called Wave of Life for a fountain in front of the newly erected Prudential Building on 1100 Holcombe Blvd. in Houston. Prudential commissioned him to also create a medal celebrating the opening of their new regional headquarters. The building was taken over by the University of Texas in 1975 and demolished in 2012.