LG employer receives Patriot Award for his support of National Guard
Published 5:00 am Monday, September 1, 2025
LA GRANDE — La Grande business owner Steve Courtney’s efforts to help National Guardsmen in the workplace has won him a five-star salute from a U.S. Department of Defense agency.
Courtney has received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program’s Patriot Award. The honor recognizes employers and their managers whose help make it possible for people to be employed and also serve in the National Guard or another reserve branch of the Armed Forces.
Courtney, the owner of SJ Electric, was thrilled to receive the award.
“This means very much to me,’ it is a big honor,’ Courtney said.
National Guardsmen August Radke, an SJ Electric employee, nominated Courtney, a veteran, for the Patriot Award. Radke credited Courtney with long supporting him in a big way. Radke said Courtney is empathetic and accommodating when he has to miss work to fight wildfires or help with other National Guard missions and assignments, including participation in two-week Guard training sessions each summer.
“He has always been understanding when I ask for time off on short notice,’’ said Radke, a member of the National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 1-168th Aviation Regiment in Pendleton.
Radke also credited Courtney with providing moral support.
“He makes sure to express his gratitude to me and thank me for serving,’’ Radke said.
Jack Johnson, of Cove, is the chair of Area Six of the Oregon Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee. He presented the Patriot award on Aug. 14 to Courtney.
“Steve’s family is one of the most patriotic in Union County,’’ Johnson said.
Johnson noted Courtney’s grandfather Burl Courtney served in the U.S. Army during World War II and later joined the National Guard. Johnson also pointed out Steve Courtney’s father John Courtney earlier headed the La Grande Police Department for 24 years and has long been a strong supporter of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Johnson said the National Guard is lucky there are local employers such as Courtney to support it.
“We are very fortunate,’’ said Johnson, a retired National Guardsman who served as a member of the La Grande-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment.
Johnson said it is important to recognize employers supporting employees who are in the National Guard because of how valuable reserves are to the U.S. Armed Forces. He said today half of those in the Armed Forces in combat roles are reservists. The Army National Guard is one of seven reserve components. The others are the Air National Guard, the Air Force Reserve, the Army Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve, the Navy Reserve and the Coast Guard Reserve.
For more about the Employee Support of the Guard and Reserve visit www.esgr.mil.