The Maddox Potter Foundation was created to honor Maddox “Mad Dog” Potter, a beautiful son, committed big brother, diligent student, and accomplished junior golfer.

Maddox was born and raised in Charleston, WV. He began his golf career at The First Tee of West Virginia when he was only 4 years old. It didn’t take long for the game to capture both his heart and his mind. Starting at age 5, he became a fixture in local U.S. Kids Golf tournaments. As he grew older, Maddox’s exposure to golf continued through the Callaway Tour, the Under Armour Tour, John Adams Middle School and George Washington High School Golf. He earned opportunities to play on some of the best courses in the United States; playing multiple times in the Red, White, & Blue Invitational in Pinehurst, NC, and in the summer of 2023, he qualified for and played in the Under Armour Nationals at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

In the Fall of 2023, Maddox was just beginning his freshman golf season. He had won back-to-back Middle School Individual and Team County Championships and was anticipating a great start to his high school career. However, in September, he began experiencing back pain. We didn’t think too much of it because he was playing so much golf. Practices, matches, driving range, golf simulator, playing with friends.

The pain persisted into October, so we took a trip to the emergency room to check for kidney stones. A CT scan showed nothing of concern. Over the next few weeks, he tried ibuprofen, a tens units, physical therapy, a chiropractor and steroids. Maddox would get relief for a little bit of time, but eventually the discomfort would return. Around Thanksgiving, the pain became debilitating, and we visited his pediatrician. Things completely unraveled from there. Multiple MRIs, emergency surgery on his lumbar spine, discovery of a large tumor, a transfer to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and a life-changing realization that this wasn’t a golf injury; It was cancer. His official diagnosis came in early December: Stage IV Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma.

We knew very early on that the odds were stacked against Maddox. We were optimistic but guarded. Treatments started in mid-December in Cincinnati and, if all went according to plan, Maddox would finish treatments in October of 2024 and would officially be in remission. However, that is not how Maddox’s story was written. Despite multiple chemotherapy protocols, Proton Therapy, and traditional radiation, his cancer continued to spread, eventually making its way to his brain. By December of 2024, a year into treatment, it became clear that this cancer would take his life here on earth regardless of any additional treatment options. That is when Maddox decided that he would no longer travel to Cincinnati. He looked at his doctors and told them that he just wanted to go home.

On December 31st we honored his wishes and brought our wise, brave, and faithful boy home. He lived out his remaining days with his family and close friends, in the place where he felt safe and at peace.  On January 24th, 2025, Maddox was finally freed of his earthly body and entered eternal peace.

We miss our boy terribly every single day. But we will move forward in his honor. It is now our responsibility to make certain that Mad Dog’s purpose lasts well beyond the 16 years he spent with us.