A special thank you to EVERYONE who made our 2026 Homecoming Parade a huge success! I particularly wanted to take time to thank and celebrate our Grand Marshals- Bob and Gayla!
Bob’s Williamsfield story goes all the way back to 1950, when he began school in a one-room country schoolhouse southwest of Williamsfield. After the county schools consolidated, he became a Williamsfield student — and before long, a pretty involved one! In high school, Bob served as Student Council President and Vice President of the Williamsfield FFA.
His involvement in FFA continued well beyond Williamsfield. Bob earned both the State Farmer and American Farmer degrees and, after graduation, was elected Illinois FFA State Vice President.
Bob went on to the University of Illinois, where apparently he didn’t know how to sit still there either. He became involved in AGR fraternity, served as Vice President of the Ag Council, and during his senior year was President of the Illini Union Board, then the largest student-run organization on campus.
And the University of Illinois is also where a very important part of this story begins.
Bob worked as a substitute waiter at Gayla’s sorority in exchange for his meals. One evening, he accidentally dumped a plate of spaghetti into the lap of one of Gayla’s sorority sisters at a formal dinner.
That got Bob demoted to washing pots and pans in the kitchen…
…but somehow, it also eventually got him Gayla.
So I suppose the lesson here is: sometimes spilling the spaghetti really does work out!
Bob graduated from the University of Illinois in 1967 and from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1970. That same year, he joined the law firm now known as Whitney & Potts, where he has practiced law for more than 56 years. During his career, Bob has been recognized as both an Illinois Leading Lawyer and Super Lawyer in agricultural law.
Gayla has been every bit as connected to this community. She served eight years on the Williamsfield School Board and has worked as the bookkeeper for their law firm for more than 25 years.
Bob and Gayla were married in 1970, and 56 years later, they have built quite a story together. They raised four children, have eight grandchildren — including two Williamsfield High School graduates — and now have two great-grandchildren.
For the past 48 years, they have called their farm north of Dahinda home. Bob also remains an active partner in Lynnbrook Farms, raising registered Angus cattle and operating a grain farm.
And despite all of his accomplishments, Bob still points back to Williamsfield Schools and the teachers who helped shape him — especially his agriculture teacher, James Guylinger.
Bob and Gayla, your lives are tied deeply to this school, this community, agriculture, education, family, and generations of Williamsfield history.
We are incredibly proud to have you leading our parade.
Williamsfield, please give a huge Homecoming Tribute to our 2026 Grand Marshals…
Bob and Gayla Potts!
On behalf of Williamsfield Schools & Community,
Principal Zack Binder