Fonds F2429 - Gib Potter fonds

Gilbert "Gib" Potter, 1906-1993, was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and began a career as a trick rider in 1923. He travelled all over Canada and the USA with McDougald Brothers Stampede and Lamar's Wild West Show. In 1927 he won the trick and fancy roping championship at the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede. Through the 1930s Potter worked in stampedes and rodeos in the summer and as a Saskatoon, Saskatchewan transit driver in the winter. He was also a cartoonist and at the end of the decade he published his first cartoon in the Star-Phoenix. In 1941 he married Margaret Buchanan. In 1942 he joined the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve in Calgary, Alberta and was assigned to entertain troops, both through trick roping and cartoon drawing. During the 1940s Potter had a regular cartoon, entitled "Chutes and Saddles", in Rodeo Fans magazine. He later published in the Star-Phoenix. He was a regular contributor to the latter newspaper from about 1969 to 1981. Potter was chairman of the Saskatoon Exhibition rodeos for 25 years and in 1986 was inducted into the Canadian Rodeo Hall of Fame. He was also a founder of the Saskatchewan Cutting Horse Association and was a life member of that organization. Potter was also inducted into the Saskatoon Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.