WEBVTT 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:13.000 Mark Weiss: Welcome all 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:18.000 This building was completed and opened in 2011 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:21.000 Today we honor a man 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:25.000 Who from the time I came to campus a decade ago 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:30.000 Began advocating to me and President Minahan 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.000 For a recreation center for students 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:37.000 In this building 00:00:37.000 --> 00:00:40.000 That dream became a reality 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:45.000 Today it is my pleasure to officially name this facility 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:49.000 Which houses an area for our football program, 00:00:49.000 --> 00:00:54.000 classrooms, including state of the art exercise science labs, 00:00:54.000 --> 00:00:60.000 An aquatic center, and of course a fantastic recreation center for our students. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:04.000 Today, this building becomes... 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:24.000 Mark Weiss: The Peter Courtney Health and Wellness Center 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:27.000 Peter told me a long time ago that if you have a middle name you should use it. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:33.000 We couldn't fit "Michael Coleman" in the middle of that so we just left it at "Peter Courtney," sorry Peter [laughter] 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:39.000 We have speakers inside to officially honor Peter as part of today's ceremony 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:44.000 Please join me inside for another unveil as well 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:58.000 Mark Weiss: We are starting our ceremony today with three student performers. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:01:63.000 Rachel Ammons, Laura Killip, and Erin Westfall 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:08.000 They will perform, "Oregon my Oregon" 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:21.000 Land of the Golden West 00:02:21.000 --> 00:02:26.000 Conquered and held by free men 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:31.000 Fairest and the best 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:37.000 Onward and upward ever 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:43.000 Forward and on, and on 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:48.000 Hail to thee, Land of heroes 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:54.000 My Oregon 00:02:54.000 --> 00:02:60.000 Land of the rose and sunshine 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:04.000 Land of the summer's breeze 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:11.000 Laden with health and vigor 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:15.000 Fresh from the western seas 00:03:15.000 --> 00:03:16.000 Laden with health and vigor 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:21.000 Blest by the blood of martyrs 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:27.000 Land of the setting sun 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:33.000 Hail to thee, Land of Promise 00:03:33.000 --> 00:03:39.000 My Oregon 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:49.000 Thank you so much Laura, Rachel, and Erin 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:53.000 And congratulations on your graduation later today 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:57.000 We will will hear you once again at commencement 00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:62.000 I want to thank each of our guests for being here. As you can see from our program 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:08.000 Many distinguished guests have joined us this morning to honor and celebrate with Peter 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:18.000 In addition to our speakers I would like to recognize Peter's family and staff for being here today 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:22.000 I'm going to step aside and welcome our first speaker to the podium 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:28.000 Due to our limited time frame because of the upcoming commencement 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:34.000 Following each speaker as outlined in today's program 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:41.000 Each speaker will come to the podium without introduction and provide their remarks 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:44.000 So I would like to start by introducing and welcoming 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:48.000 Governor Kate Brown to Western Oregon University 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:62.000 Governor Brown: Your applause just took up 30 seconds of my two minutes 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:10.000 Greetings from the state of Oregon, I am so pleased and honored to play a part in honoring my long time friend and colleague 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:14.000 President Peter Courtney 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:18.000 I wan to express my appreciation for his unstinting leadership 00:05:18.000 --> 00:05:25.000 As a legislator and as the longest serving Sentate President in Oregon's history 00:05:31.000 --> 00:05:36.000 It's hard to imagine a more committed public servant than Peter Courtney 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:39.000 Although I'm certain he would disagree with me 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:42.000 Because as the statesman journal once put it 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:47.000 He inhabits the land of failure, mistakes, and self pessimism 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:51.000 He doesn't see the glass as half empty, much less half full 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:55.000 He doesn't even see the glass 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:59.000 But today, I have the microphone and, so far, he doesn't. 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:09.000 I know that Peter Courtney will not take credit personally 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:16.000 Because of his strong belief, in all things, that the team, the team, is paramount 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:19.000 Each individual member of the team must do their part 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:22.000 And do it to the best of their ability 00:06:22.000 --> 00:06:26.000 In order to achieve victory for the team 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:33.000 An avid participant of the Hood to Coast Relay, his Western Oregon team, "Peter and the Wolves" 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:36.000 Competed for nearly 20 years 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:39.000 He ran it after his cancer treatment 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:42.000 He ran it after his hip replacement surgery 00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:47.000 Even when walkers were passing him, he ran it 00:06:51.000 --> 00:06:55.000 As anyone who has heard President Courtney's wagon theory can tell you 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:58.000 There are those who are fit and strong 00:06:58.000 --> 00:06:62.000 And they travel on the first wagon blazing the trail 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:06.000 Leading the others to a new frontier 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:12.000 Those who are sickly and weak, well they're on the last wagon 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:15.000 We all know you are on the first wagon 00:07:15.000 --> 00:07:19.000 And we hope you are saving a seat for all of the rest of us 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:23.000 Congratulations on this well-earned honor 00:07:23.000 --> 00:07:29.000 And it is such a privilege to be able to serve at Oregon State Capitol with you, thank you so very much 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:44.000 John Minahan: Peter, I know this is very uncomfortable for you 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:48.000 But, too bad you're going to have to sit through it 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:55.000 I was told I have a few minutes, and I said I could say a few nice things to you and I could even stretch it that long 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:06.000 I came here in '86 from kind of the East Coast 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:09.000 And Peter taught me a lot about how not to be 00:08:09.000 --> 00:08:12.000 A New Yorker here and how to succeed here 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:18.000 He even taught me the Oregon "no" which is this slow "yes" nodding 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:24.000 Which means, "buddy you don't know what you're doing, and I don't agree, but I'm saying 'yes' " [laughter] 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:28.000 The fact of the matter is this building 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:35.000 Is partly a student contribution, and Peter's contribution 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:42.000 The students voted to tax themselves to pay for the half of the 36 million that it took to make this place 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:46.000 And Peter made sure, during the height of the last recession 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:52.000 That this place had jobs for Oregonians, and he's built a fantastic 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:57.000 first rate, long lasting facility; educational, recreational 00:08:57.000 --> 00:08:64.000 And also just a fun place for people to be 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:10.000 There are some things you probably don't know that have to do with Peter's contributions to this school 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:17.000 When I first came here in '86 there were about 2,000 students, there had been another recession 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:21.000 And Peter was hired to help figure out how this place should succeed 00:09:21.000 --> 00:09:26.000 And he came with having an idea of having a public service park here 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:31.000 He brought in, along with President Meyers, the Police Academy 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:35.000 And then, after that, he brought in the Military Academy 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:42.000 And the idea was that they would help use our facilities and our intellectual talent to their good benefit 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:45.000 Over time, they both grew out of the place 00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:54.000 And Peter once again was instrumental in taking the Police Academy and helping turn it into the Nursing School 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:57.000 And soon, as the Military Academy leaves 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:63.000 We'll have a first rate Communications building with many more classrooms 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:07.000 I can tell you that he didn't only do things for Western 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:14.000 Hayward Field became an Olympic quality venue because of Peter's work 00:10:15.000 --> 00:10:20.000 I can think of the Campbell Hall situation 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:25.000 Nobody knows this, but at the time this place was built Campbell Hall was 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:30.000 Built on a cement floor that didn't have any walls 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:37.000 And so the building, when it rained, which was often, had a stream running through the bottom of it 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:42.000 And it kind of made it inconvenient to do pottery to say the least 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:48.000 Peter found a way, with earthquake money, to save that that grand old building 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:56.000 Most of which had already been destroyed because of the storm in 1963 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:62.000 Peter did many things here. Peter, your name is writ large at this school 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:05.000 It's the right thing for your name to be on this building 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:12.000 And I thank you for being my friend and working so hard for this school for 10 years, we are going to miss you 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:18.000 And your name should stand up very large for a long time, thank you Peter 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:35.000 I'm Ted Kulongoski and I'm a member of the Board of Trustees here at Western Oregon University and I am here on behalf 00:11:35.000 --> 00:11:40.000 Of our Chairman Jim Baumgartner and the other trustees of the board 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:47.000 And we are here to congratulate Peter for this very very fine day 00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:55.000 That acknowledges not only his contribution to Western Oregon University, but I would argue, to the state of Oregon 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:59.000 Let me for a moment say that I've been told 00:11:59.000 --> 00:11:66.000 For every successful Senate President there is an extraordinary partner 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:10.000 That stands behind him, and I want to acknowledge Margie 00:12:10.000 --> 00:12:15.000 For all her contributions [applause] 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:27.000 Peter and I, our political careers have basically been joined at the hip together for the last 40 years 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:32.000 I remember Peter when he was first elected to the city council down in Salem 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:35.000 And we both have tasted the bitter defeat 00:12:35.000 --> 00:12:43.000 And put the heads in the mouth of the dragon and felt its hot breath in political races and lost and came back again 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:46.000 But I want you all to know that as a friend 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:52.000 I've never had any body that is tenacious as Peter, we are both former Marines 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:56.000 Have a great respect for our tradition in the Corps 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:60.000 But what I know about Peter more than anything else 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:03.000 Is he cares about people 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:06.000 He cares about young people, he cares about elderly 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:10.000 He wants to make Oregon a better place for all of us 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:15.000 And I'll just ell you about this facility. If you've ever been up here, which I have 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:20.000 To listen to one of Peter's announcements at a basketball game 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:24.000 Which I could never understand what he was trying to convey 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:28.000 But he had a way of saying something 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:38.000 He is the heart of this facility 00:13:38.000 --> 00:13:41.000 And I would argue with you 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:47.000 Just as President Minahan said, he is the heart of the campus 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:52.000 An, I believe, for the state of Oregon, thank you all very very much 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:08.000 Dick Hughes: I knew Peter was going to say that, he just said, "This is going to be good" 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:12.000 Well, Peter here is my talk, and I'm not going to give it 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:23.000 Because Governor Kulongoski just did better than anything I could say and stole all my 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:29.000 Good lines and stuff and I don't want to try to copy him becuae I have too much respect for him, so I'm just going to ad lib 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:32.000 And I wan to tell you about this really cool app that I downloaded today 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:36.000 It's called the "Peter Courtney" app 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:39.000 And so I'm going to start it right now 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:44.000 Because It's got this automatic thing that if I say too many nice things about Peter, It'll buzz 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:48.000 And stop me from doing that [laughter] 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:52.000 And so let me just tell you about a few features of the app 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:55.000 It has Courtney priorities: 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:61.000 Faith, family..oh those are his top priorities? Good, I certainly know family 00:15:01.000 --> 00:15:07.000 Oregon legislature, Oregon, Doughnuts 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:15.000 Moving quickly on, here's one, Courtney has a thing for buildings 00:15:15.000 --> 00:15:24.000 click here, he is quite fond of telling people that when he first arrived here from the east coast he lived in the Salem YMCA for two years 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:28.000 Pulling his Murphy bed out of the wall each night 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:35.000 And you can tap, and you can get an illustration of him pulling out his Murphy bed [laughter] 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:40.000 Apparently, Murphy...anyway, we wont go there [laughter] 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:48.000 Oh, wow, for his first date with his future wife Margie, who is an absolutely wonderful person, she is a saint 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:56.000 And this shows it, for their first date he took her up to the roof of the Oregon Supreme Court building 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:60.000 Apparently to view the sights of Salem [laughter] 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:08.000 Ok, names, click on the building names, you already heard about how he loves middle names 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:14.000 Oh, here is a notation, "please call this the Peter Michael Colemen Courtney Health and Wellness Center" 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:20.000 Or the P-M-C-C-H-W-C building, for short 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:29.000 Ok, here is, click on "Hood to Coast experience," oh, before he did Peter and the Wolves 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:34.000 You know most people would shy away from "Peter Rabbit", "Peter and the Wolves," not Peter Courtney 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:38.000 Here's an entry, "Loves limelight, even in dark" 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:53.000 And he got lost one night in downtown Portland 00:16:53.000 --> 00:16:61.000 And according to his story he found some, what we would discreetly call as street people, living under the bridge 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:05.000 And asked them for directions [laughter] and apparently 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:12.000 They all got along so well that his new friends offered to share their brown paper bag beverages with him 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:18.000 I remember that, I was driving, and eventually he did come back to the course 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:23.000 Oh.."Meaning of this Ceremony" about...oh...yea 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:30.000 he's a consummate warrior, you heard about that about the glass is half full and not being seen 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:35.000 Oh yea, her it says, "He seeks perfection, he expects rejection" 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:41.000 It's his nature, where others...[phone rings] 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:47.000 oh no I'm sorry I've said too many nice things, I'm going to have to finish up [laughter] 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:52.000 Where others see a cloudless sky, he sees a skyless cloud 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:62.000 As he muttered on the opening day of the 2015 legislature when all was good until something minor went awry 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:13.000 Even now he is probably sitting there wondering what to say about this building naming 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:17.000 I'll say, "It's an honor I don't deserve, no... 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:26.000 And he's probably thinking, and will turn to Margie on the way home today 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:40.000 As best I can tell, there is no catch, it's a cloudless sky 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:43.000 But what do I know, I'm just a journalist 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:58.000 I'm Gay Timkin, and I'm faculty in Health and Exercise Science 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:63.000 It's like Kate Brown, Ted Kulongoski, John Minahan, Dick Hughes...Gay Timkin? 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:12.000 I don't know... well the first time I met Peter was when testified before the ways and means committee as an advocate for daily physical education for Oregon youth. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:16.000 With a classic suit tie and sneakers, I'm really kind of disappointed today 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:21.000 And his five pound fat model that he slammed on the desk to say 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:29.000 He championed for that, and for the health and wellness of Oregon, its kids 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:33.000 The next time I met Peter was on the initial committee for this building 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:38.000 Supposedly, according to Mark Weiss, I was on a quest for a climbing wall 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:42.000 And I might have been just a little pushy, but I met my match with Peter 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:48.000 Who was on a quest for a running track 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:51.000 So I'd say something about a climbing wall 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:55.000 And he'd het all grouse and grumbly and eye roll, and "ah, we don't need a climbing wall!" 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:05.000 And he would talk about the indoor track, and I would get all grumbly and I'd eye roll, and I'd say 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:14.000 Well as a result of his efforts, we do have a beautiful indoor track 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:17.000 Not the climbing wall...Peter 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:24.000 And on the third floor, an exercise science lab that houses state of the art clinical and research equipment 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:28.000 That allows students and faculty to collaborate on research 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:32.000 and students to gain relevant clinical experience that has proven invaluable 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:37.000 We have student going into OT programs, PT programs, chiropractic programs 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:42.000 Alternative medicine, graduate programs in athletic training and kinesiology 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:48.000 Education, healthcare, fitness related jobs 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:52.000 And we have students going into PhD programs also 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:58.000 And I think their progress 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:62.000 Has been helped with this exercise science lab 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:08.000 And their cognitive ability has been much improved by their habits here in the wellness center 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:12.000 Although, Peter, I've got to say, most of those kids are probably running outside 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:17.000 So, those of us on campus know of your contributions to Western 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:20.000 And for your efforts in getting this buiding off the ground 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:23.000 Hopefully we all recognize Peter's efforts 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:28.000 In helping improve the mental health care of Oregonians 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:32.000 So it seems fitting, Peter, that this building be named in honor of you 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:37.000 Given your tireless support and advocacy for the physical and mental health 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:42.000 And well being of Oregonians, and in particular, Western students, thank you 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:55.000 Evelyn Garcia: I'm significantly shorter [laughs] 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:58.000 I first came to Western Oregon University around 2010 00:21:58.000 --> 00:21:63.000 Around this time the Health and Wellness center was preparing to make it's big debut 00:22:03.000 --> 00:22:08.000 This building was a highlight of campus tours, and a great attraction during New Student Week orientation 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:16.000 As a traditional first year student I had be cautioned of the strange phenomenon that is the "freshman 15" 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:22.000 Fortunately, because of the health and wellness center, I was able to channel my "freshman 15" to be primarily gained in muscle 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:28.000 This facility offers many opportunities for students to grow, not just in physical strength, but mental strength as well 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:34.000 During my time here I had many courses at this facility from psychology to yoga 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:38.000 Friends and hall mates would come and get trained for the rock climbing and bouldering courses 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:43.000 Would team up for intramural activities, and would support one another in the fitness classes 00:22:43.000 --> 00:22:47.000 And were always assisted and greeted by the wonderful student workers 00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:50.000 So what does the Health and Wellness Center mean to the students? 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:57.000 Ultimately, it means opportunity, the opportunity to improve our physical well-being, to gain employment skills, 00:22:57.000 --> 00:22:61.000 to create connections, and to feel educated and confident every time they leave this building 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:06.000 So on behalf of the student of Western Oregon University, past, present, and future 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:12.000 Of those who use the Health and Wellness Center in both the academic and recreational activities, thank you 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:18.000 Applause 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:23.000 Mark Weiss: You may be wondering what is under this next cover 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:28.000 Thank you "Vanna" [laughter] 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:34.000 This the fulfillment of a promise 00:23:34.000 --> 00:23:44.000 At her retirement breakfast, emeritus faculty member Elana Jameson was asked by Peter 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:52.000 Do you remember that? [laughter} 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:57.000 Elana, please join me to help unveil this gift 00:23:57.000 --> 00:23:65.000 Peter I ask you to join me too, please come up 00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:10.000 Stand [laughter] no, no, this way 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:23.000 Peter, thank you for consistently being and advocate for W-O-U and her students 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:28.000 Thank you for helping make this building a reality 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:32.000 It is our privilege to honor you here with this portrait 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:38.000 Elana and Evelyn please remove the cover 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:62.000 Peter Courtney, Assistant to the President, and Assistant Professor Emeritus 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:05.000 I am honored to call you my friend 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:15.000 Now I turn the podium to you, just keep in mind we must all be on time for commencement [laughter] 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:20.000 And I still have more gifts to give you 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:25.000 Peter Courtney: I'm Beginning to think the only reason you decided to name this building after me was so that you had an opportunity to roast me 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:37.000 I do want to thank Richard Meyers, he is not here 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:42.000 You probably don't even know him, but he's the man that hired me off the streets of Salem 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:47.000 After I had been crushed in my race for the United States Congress 00:25:47.000 --> 00:25:50.000 Back in May of 1984, I was completely humiliated 00:25:50.000 --> 00:25:57.000 I didn't come in last in a four-way primary, but I came in 10 points behind the winner, that is a crushing defeat. 00:25:57.000 --> 00:25:60.000 And thank you Governor Kulongoski for bringing that up 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:08.000 You don't know how much I want to take on each of the speakers, that have spoken, you have no idea [ laughter] 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:13.000 I gotta be serious, but jeez I really would like to say some things, but I can't 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:18.000 So I hope the word reaches Dr. Meyers, wherever he is, wonderful person 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:24.000 Its funny, I've just started speaking and the President of Western just immediately looked at his watch 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:28.000 So, that's good. I do want to acknowledge Governor Brown 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:33.000 You know she has been cast an incredibly difficult situation in the State of Oregon's history 00:26:33.000 --> 00:26:40.000 No other Governor has had to do what she is doing, and everyones going to say it's 'cause she's a Democrat and I'm a Democrat, not true 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:44.000 I was in the front lines of what happened in this state, back in...a real tragedy, back in February 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:49.000 And overnight she has to become Governor under incredibly difficult circumstances 00:26:49.000 --> 00:26:54.000 And I'm watching her day in and day out and she's just doing a wonderful job, and so 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:59.000 I do want to make that known, it's very hard to be put in that role 00:26:59.000 --> 00:26:68.000 As far as Governor Kulongoski, he did something that I'll never stop admiring, he went to the funeral 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:16.000 Of every single soldier that fell, during his reign as Governor for eight years 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:19.000 In the Iraqi...the war over there 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:28.000 He went to every single funeral [applause] 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:34.000 That is very tough stuff, you don't just do that. That, that's too much 00:27:34.000 --> 00:27:40.000 Alright, yea, you're right, I don't think the building should have been named after me 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:47.000 And let me tell you about that, when you say the name Peter Courtney, you say the name "Courtney" 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:51.000 You have to understand that when I came to Oregon my Oregon 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:56.000 Totally by myself I didn't even know where the west coast was or Oregon was, and I did stay in the "Y" 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:61.000 When you come that far away you do not survive without others 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:06.000 Truly the peoples names that should be on the wall 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:13.000 Are William Vincent Courtney, Constance Coleman who are buried in the plains of Rhode Island, they are my parents 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:22.000 Also, Sue and Hai Brendan, they are buried in a little cemetery in Mount Angel, they are my Wife's parents 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:26.000 They are the Brendans and the Haucks 00:28:26.000 --> 00:28:30.000 These people, all of them, they deserve to be there 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:34.000 My wife Margie Ann Brendan Bernadette Courtney 00:28:34.000 --> 00:28:39.000 I don't know why, people often wonder why she ever dated me, because you've already heard about my personality 00:28:39.000 --> 00:28:44.000 Strictly from a little town in Mount Angel, I would not be here 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:48.000 Peter our son would not be here if she had not been there 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:54.000 I am so pleased that my son Peter, where is Peter? I've lost...he over with our grandson 00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:59.000 Peter , the oldest of our three boys is here, he graduated from here in 2004 00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:63.000 Melinda, who is my daughter-in-law and our first grandson are here 00:29:03.000 --> 00:29:07.000 I cannot tell you the importance that it's not Peter 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:13.000 It's the Courtney's, it's those names, family, it's everything you don't do this without them 00:29:13.000 --> 00:29:19.000 I'm very happy that John Minahan is here, he was there so early on, Judy Corwin is in the audience 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:24.000 I want to tell you they were early on in this building, this building is interesting 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:29.000 They got it right, I just saw a guy named Gary Dukes out there 00:29:29.000 --> 00:29:33.000 Dukes and I got in a fight over the running track and the swimming pool 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:37.000 He won on the swimming pool, I won on the track 00:29:37.000 --> 00:29:42.000 But this built building is much more than that, there are class rooms back there, I have taught a class in that 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:48.000 You've heard about the recreation and the community rooms, this building is about health 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:52.000 It's about the mind it's about healing. 'Cause that athletic training facility down there 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:57.000 Is world class, which heals the minds and the bodies of our student athletes 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:64.000 So this is a remarkable facility, I am more than humbled to deal with this 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:07.000 Thankfully they told me that this was going to be done a few weeks ago 00:30:07.000 --> 00:30:12.000 If they'd of pulled this today, I could not have done the commencement speech 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:16.000 Which I'm supposed to give in an hour over there, and I still might not be able to do it 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:22.000 The last thing I want to say is, and I hope you know what you've done President Meyers and the others who have made this decision 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:29.000 There are in this audience Governors, there are Presidents, there are Provosts 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:36.000 There are Deans, there are athletic directors, there's tenured track professors 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:40.000 Full professors, do you know what I am? 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:42.000 Do you know all I've ever been on this campus? 00:30:42.000 --> 00:30:48.000 The assistant...that's all I've ever been, I'm not kidding you [laughter] 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:53.000 One-year contracts, the assistant, that's all I've ever been 00:30:53.000 --> 00:30:59.000 They have named a building after the assistant, stop and think about that, Peter the assistant 00:30:59.000 --> 00:30:64.000 But I gotta tell ya, I gotta tell ya [applause] 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:09.000 But I gotta tell ya, I gotta tell ya [applause] 00:31:09.000 --> 00:31:12.000 It's a very special thing for me, It's avery humbling thing 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:16.000 It's really pretty nice, thank you Western Oregon University 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:41.000 Mark Weiss: Thank you Peter, don't go away. Peter Courtney: Stop Touching me 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:49.000 Are we gonna start? 00:31:49.000 --> 00:31:56.000 As we close out this ceremony, I'm thrilled to give you this special gift to have at your home 00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:65.000 over there is a Hood to Coast, "Peter and the Wolves," the "wolves" being the Western Oregon University Wolves 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:16.000 Team pictures and mementos, and notes from some of your teammates and folks on campus 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:27.000 And we hope that's meaningful for you, It's certainly a part of what encouraged me to, you know 00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:34.000 About the importance of this facility and your commitment to exercise 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:41.000 We also want you to know that you will always be welcome here, and will be considered an honorary lifetime member 00:32:41.000 --> 00:32:54.000 In here is a membership card, the only one of its kind. Peter Courtney: I'll have to report this... 00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:64.000 There's also a little picture here, yea we'll just put that away, so please take that 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:13.000 And enclosed is a personal message from WOU President Meyers who could not be here today 00:33:13.000 --> 00:33:20.000 Who was invited and wanted to make sure he shared his sentiments on this special day for you 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:28.000 I know how important students are to you and I am thrilled to take this opportunity to tell you that a scholarship endowment 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:34.000 has been created in your name, the "Peter Courtney Legacy Scholarship" 00:33:34.000 --> 00:33:41.000 Will help ensure a student is able to fulfill their dream of a college education 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:44.000 I invite everyone to help us build this endowment 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:52.000 Peter thank you for all you have done, let's give him one last round of applause