Cervi's father officially a rodeo legend
It would be easy to refer to Marana’s Mel Potter as “Sherry Cervi’s father.” I mean, she has won four rodeo world championships in barrel racing.
But those involved in the pro rodeo circuit know Potter as a singular part of the sport.
He will receive rodeo’s top honor on Nov. 30 in Las Vegas as part of the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.
One person is deemed a “Legend” each year at the Wrangler Gold Buckle Gala. Potter is the 2015 honoree.
Potter, 80, was a tie-down roper in the inaugural National Finals Rodeo in 1959, and a top competitor for almost 30 years. He has been one of rodeo’s leading stock contractors, producing some of the sport’s elite timed-event horses since 1973.
When he’s not on the road, at about 100 rodeos per year, Potter and his wife of 59 years, Wendy, also operate the Potter Ranch in Marana with their daughter, Jo Lynn and her husband, George Alexander.
The best part about Potter’s honor is that Sherry will be in Las Vegas, too. She is ranked No. 5 in the current world rankings, earning $104,703 so far this year and gunning for her fifth world title.
