A crowd of current and former county and state officials joined community members to pay tribute to former county executive and county councilman Neal Potter in a memorial service at Chevy Chase United Methodist Church on Tuesday.
Potter died late last month at 93. He had recently suffered from heart and kidney ailments and had moved with his wife from their home in Chevy Chase to Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg in January 2007.
For many people, time is the enemy, County Executive Isiah Leggett told the crowd. But for Potter, ‘‘time was a friend and trusted counsel.”
In Potter’s honor, Leggett (D) has renamed the Path of Achievement Awards, given to elder county residents for their personal and community accomplishments, for the former executive.
‘‘During his years of public service, Neal belonged to the people of Montgomery County,” Leggett said.
Potter served five four-year County Council terms before launching a last-minute campaign to win the county executive’s seat from Sidney Kramer in 1990. He was elected to one more council term in 1994. During his time in county government, Potter became known for his views on land use, as well as his work in establishing the 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve in the northern part of the county.
Jon Gerson, economic development director during Potter’s executive tenure, recounted Potter’s staunch adherence to rules and laws, when Potter — then a county executive candidate — returned to his campaign office with a number of campaign signs he had collected from county streets because they had been illegally placed in median strips.
‘‘Today’s service reminds us of the importance of the way we treat each other,” Gerson said.
As county executive, Potter was known as a slow-growth leader and as the ‘‘10th council member” for his dedication to working cohesively with the council.
Although advanced in age, Potter kept a rigorous legislative schedule and was known to pass up elevators in favor of walking up the stairs.
In his closing remarks, Leggett recommended that audience members commemorate Potter and follow his example by committing ‘‘not to use the elevator and take the stairs two at a time.”
Potter’s involvement in county politics began when the government used eminent domain to take his parents’ farm on short notice. They were paid just $19,000 for the property, which became the Cabin John exit for the Capital Beltway.
‘‘You gave Neal to us and now we give Neal back to you,” said officiating Pastor David Myers in his closing prayer to end the service.
Also paying their respects at the church on Connecticut Avenue on Tuesday were a mix of current and former officials including all nine members of the current council, Dels. Jeff Waldstreicher (D-Dist. 18) of Kensington and James W. Gilchrist (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville, and former council members Bruce Adams and Esther P. Gelman.
Potter’s death follows the passing in February of long-serving County Councilwoman Marilyn J. Praisner and Planning Board member Gene Lynch.
Potter is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marion; one daughter, JoAnn; one grandson; and his brother, Lloyd Potter of Potomac.
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