Peter Courtney was a lifelong prankster.

As a new law clerk working in the Oregon Supreme Court Building, he became friends with the nighttime janitor. Courtney routinely would unplug the janitor’s vacuum, hide it in the elevator and dispatch the elevator to a different floor.

I heard that story a few days ago. Many other tales were recounted during Wednesday’s celebration of life for Oregon’s longest-serving legislator and Senate president. Stitched together, the anecdotes and appreciations form the map of a life well-lived, a roadmap for statesmanship.

Former Senate President Courtney, D-Salem, died July 16, 2024, at age 81.

Speakers during the two-hour program included Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego; former Secretary of the Senate Lori Brocker; former Gov. Kate Brown; Connie Seeley, chief of staff at Oregon Health and Science University, who worked for Courtney for 13 years; and the three main gubernatorial candidates from 2022 — Christine Drazan, Betsy Johnson and Gov. Tina Kotek.

Lesson No. 1: Never underestimate people despite their peculiarities

Former Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp, of Bend, told the Oregon Capitol audience that Peter Michael Coleman Courtney was “the most influential figure in Oregon state politics in our history.”

That historic stature developed despite, or maybe because of, Courtney’s idiosyncrasies.

“Peter had, shall we say, an unusual way of relating to people. The constant teasing, provocation, tall tales and insults mostly directed in himself kept us all on our toes,” said former Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick, D-Portland.

Lesson No. 2: Be true to yourself

“My dad was once quoted saying, ‘I’m aware that my personality can offend people, that my style can be too flamboyant, that I frolic too much.’

“Frolicking [and] flamboyance were definitely his style,” son Sean Courtney said in a video tribute. ”He taught us to always be true to ourselves as he was to his own unique style.”

Lesson No. 3: it’s all about teamwork

Former Courtney staffers remain intensely loyal. Pat Egan, now president and CEO of See’s Candies, said: “As a staffer, I would not be doing my job if I did not say part of the reason we all adore him so much was he was so sincere and genuine in policy.

“I’ll never forget one time Peter said, ‘If you can’t look at your No. 1 funder in the face and say, ‘Go jump off a cliff,’ you’re not worth being here.’”

Courtney demonstrated an uncanny ability for picking the right people for the job, whether for his staff or as leaders of Senate committees.

As a young legislative staffer, Egan said, he was shocked when Courtney promoted him to chief of staff: “I think he could see the abject fear in my face. He looked at me and said, ‘Egan, I’m the football coach here. You’re the freshman quarterback. I’m going to throw you out on the field, and it’s either going to be magnificent or it’s going to be a disaster. We’re going to find out.’

“Peter had a way of instilling confidence and doubt all at once, very effectively.”

Lesson No. 4: Political opponents are not enemies

House Republican Leader Drazan, of Canby. first came to the Capitol as a young staffer. House Democrats were in the minority, and then-Rep. Courtney had the same role Drazan holds today — leader of the minority party.

Courtney sometimes went for runs at lunchtime with her boss, Republican Majority Leader Ray Baum.

“They were opponents, they were colleagues and they were friends. They modeled an opposing party relationship that had substance and sturdiness to it,” Drazan said. “They understood how to remain people within their political roles.”

Lesson No. 5: Care about individuals

Fiery Courtney possessed an equally compassionate side.

“Peter was a caretaker,” Knopp said. “He cared for people so much, and you saw that in how he reached out. There wasn’t an important moment in a senator’s life that he wasn’t involved with in some way – in congratulating you and having compassion for you, in being there with you, discussing it and being your confidant and, many times, your protector.”

Lesson No. 6: Heed the process, not just politics

Burdick said Courtney’s 20-year tenure as Senate president did not happen by accident. He was “driven by his belief that the Legislature lacked equal standing with the Executive Branch,” she said.

“Peter was the leader most responsible for elevating our influence in stature — annual sessions, Legislative Days, enhanced staffing, equal pay and, of course, what we all are seeing today, the major renovation of his beloved State Capitol.”

Added Knopp: “Peter was always a protector of the minority, because he wanted to make sure that things were fair and that voices were heard. He spent a lot of time working with minority members to make sure that they weren’t left behind as well.

“And it’s no secret why Peter survived 20 years, because he treated people with respect and with dignity.”

Lesson No. 7: Know the state you love

“I’m a native Oregonian,” said former Democratic Sen. Johnson, of Warren. “One of a number of things about the Peter (whom) I called ‘Grumpy Uncle Peter’ — sometimes to his face — that annoyed me over the years was that he frequently out-Oregon-ed many of us with an Oregon birthright.”

Lesson No. 8: Take your work seriously, not yourself

Sean Courtney told the crowd: “If he could be here now and see all of you gathered knowing that one of his kids finally had the floor, he would likely utter the same phrase that became famous around the Capitol when things were tough — ‘I got a bad feeling in all my crevices.’” 

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