Senior Citizen Harry Potter from Zaleski, Ohio

A young man from England and a senior citizen may not appear to have much in common at first glance, but it's all in the name. Former Zaleski resident, Harry Potter has received more calls than any Santa Claus hotline in the days following the latest release of the highly anticipated J.K. Rowling Harry Potter book. Potter retired and moved to the warmer climate of Bradenton, Florida, and has become a favorite visitor from all of his grandson's friends.

"We have never seen the movies or read the books, but our grandson just loves them," Potter's wife, Jan stated during a telephone interview. "They just look at him like he is some kind of a god, and he signs their books for them."

The Potters received a phone call recently from J.K Rowling herself, who personally called all men named Harry Potter which she could find to invite to a special all expenses paid trip to meet each the writer, and each other. The 78 year old Harry Potter has received many phone calls from the news media, including CNN, USA Today, and the New York Times, to discuss his experiences with possessing such a famous name.

"The kids want to know if I'm Harry Potter," he said with a chuckle. "I tell them I've been Harry Potter for darn near 80 years!" Potter stated in an Associated Press interview.

"When Harry talks to the kids, they'll ask about the owl and he'll say, 'Oh, he came by and brought the mail," Jan Potter said.

The Potters return to Ohio several times a year to visit family, several of which still live in Vinton County. Jan's sister, Jean Ann Johnson, of Hamden, and Harry's brother, a former Vinton County Sheriff, of Zaleski. The couple graduated from Zaleski High School in 1946, and were high school sweethearts.

"After high school Harry went to the Navy and I went on to college," Jan said. "We ended up marrying other people, but ran into each other several years later, when we were both single again, and married, and have had a wonderful life together since."

The number of actual Harry Potter's in the world has yet to be determined. Holders of the famous name currently hail from France, India, and England.

The senior citizen Harry Potter keeps as busy as the youthful character. Potter is officially retired from a Department of Defense career, but according to his wife, just can't seem to stop working, and shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.