09/21/2026
Tribute to a Visionary: 25 Years of Enduring Legacy
To: The Family, Friends, and Community of Eugene A. "Gene" Pottinger, and the Employees of Blendex Company
Subject: A Quarter-Century of Vision, Integrity, and Legacy
Twenty-five years ago, we lost a remarkable leader. But looking back today, time has only shown how strong of a foundation he built. We remember Eugene A. Pottinger not with fresh sadness, but with deep gratitude for the incredible blueprint he left behind for all of us.
When Gene started Blendex in January 1979, he didn’t just start a business; he created a culture. Before Blendex, Gene had already changed the world with his engineering work. At General Electric, he helped design the washing machine agitators that people still use in their homes today. Later, he helped invent the Collectramatic Pressure Fryer—a machine so revolutionary that Colonel Harland Sanders financed it and put it in Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants all over the globe. Gene knew how to build machines, but he also knew how to treat people. Having worked directly with the Colonel and later Dave Thomas (founder Wendy’s), he was profoundly influenced by their shared philosophy of treating employees and customers with genuine respect. He started Blendex because he was tired of seeing bad customer service from other companies and wanted to create the exact kind of business he would want to buy from himself.
The business world changes a lot in 25 years. Technology advances and markets shift. Yet, the core values Gene built into the DNA of this company remain our guide. He believed in putting customers first, keeping promises, doing the right thing, and treating team members even better. The fact that Blendex is still thriving today is the ultimate proof that his original ideas were right.
Those who knew Gene—from his childhood home “Walnut Hill” in Nelson County, to his Navy service on the USS Bairoko, to his meetings with Colonel Sanders—knew he was a man of action. He was deeply honest and generous. He always said his success came from simply "making things happen," and he quietly gave away more than ten percent of his income to his church and charities. For the newer employees who only know him from company history, his impact is still felt every single day in the honest way we do business.
As we mark 25 years since his passing on September 26, 2001, we promise to honor his name by working hard, keeping our word, and leading with the same courage he showed. Eugene A. Pottinger proved that a person's hard work can outlive them. His legacy is still alive in every product we make and every customer relationship we protect.
With deepest respect and remembrance,
The Blendex Company Family
