For Potter, Madison is ‘right-sized’
MADISON – Mike Potter describes Madison as “‘right-sized.’ It was easy to get involved in community, make friends and become a contributor to our city.”
“I never saw that opportunity in other places in which we lived,” Potter said.
A Mobile native, Potter earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Spring Hill College in Mobile and a master’s degree in electrical engineering at University of Texas – El Paso.
He was introduced to Madison when the U.S. Army stationed him twice on Redstone Arsenal. He worked in Patriot Program Office and McMorrow Laboratories.
“I retired from the Army (as lieutenant colonel) in 1990 and worked for Raytheon in Huntsville as a systems engineer,” Potter said.
“We lived in southeast Huntsville for 20 years but chose western Madison in 2003 to build a house. We knew this was a growth area and southeast Huntsville was aging,” Potter said.
Married in 1971, Mike and Patricia Potter are parents of Amy Bock and Leigh Tarr, both graduates of Grissom High School and University of South Alabama. The Potters’ grandchildren are Logan Tarr, 12, a sixth-grader at West Madison Elementary School, and four-year-old Harrison Bock, who attends Madison United Methodist Church Preschool.
Volunteering is important to Potter. “When I’m gone, I want folks to remember me as someone who thought life wasn’t about ‘him.’ I believe our purpose on Earth is to be a positive in our community and an example to our children.”
“Service is integral to that – a meaningful life is not about ‘self.’ It’s also logical to me on multiple levels that community service is a fundamental way to take care of our families,” Potter said.
Potter served as District 4 Councilman on Madison City Council from 2012-2016.
He participates with his neighborhood homeowners association; Madison Planning Commission; Pastoral Council with Most Merciful Jesus Catholic Church; and American Legion, Post 229. He previously served with Citizens Advisory Committee, Metropolitan Planning Organization.
His dog Toby is a ‘puggle,’ a pug/beagle mix. In music, Potter “loves rock ’n’ roll from the 1950s and 1960s best — Eagles, Neil Diamond, Chicago, Fleetwood Mac. I like folk music and enjoy playing and collecting guitars,” he said.
The Potters enjoy eating at Main Street Cafe, La Placita, Fulins, Cork & Crust, Panera, Ted’s Barbecue and Cricket’s.
