Former Oregon senator and 55th president of the Oregon Senate Peter Courtney will receive the Legacy of Leadership Award at the First Citizen Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 8.
Last week, we surprised the former senator with the help of friend Dick Withnell at the Withnell Family YMCA with the news of his recognition. Join us at the First Citizen Awards Banquet to see the surprise on video!
Although Peter Courtney has represented constituents in several Oregon cities during his record-setting 10 terms as Oregon Senate President and 38 years in the Legislature, his heart and his roots have always remained here in Salem.
Before becoming the longest-serving legislator in our state’s history, Peter started his political career as a Salem City Councilor in 1974 and has served our city in a myriad of ways since, including on the boards of the Salem Area Mass Transit District, the YMCA of Marion and Polk Counties, and the United Way.
During his career as a senator (1999-2023), he helped direct hundreds of millions of dollars to Salem-area projects, including the Withnell Family YMCA and Oregon State Hospital. Most recently, he helped secure government funding for a new 34-unit veteran housing complex in Salem fittingly named Courtney Place.
Stay tuned for more honoree announcements, and see below for the event details.
72nd First Citizen Awards Banquet
Saturday, April 8
Salem Convention Center
GET TICKETS: https://salemchamber.org/events/first-citizen/
Join us at the banquet to celebrate Peter, the rest of our esteemed honorees, and our incredible community.
We thank our First Citizen Awards sponsors, including Presenting Sponsors Mountain West Investment Corporation and Pioneer Trust Bank, for making this premier Salem event possible.