Like many young people in the 1960s, Will A. Courtney ’58 was moved by the challenge issued by President John F. Kennedy at his inauguration in 1961.
“When he said, ‘… ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,’ it really made me think about our responsibilities as citizens and what we can do for our country, in addition to military service,” he says.
Inspired by the president’s words, Courtney rolled up his sleeves and began more than a half-century of hands-on charitable work and service to the community. The USO World Board of Governors, the Van Cliburn Foundation and a host of local organizations have benefited from his time and talent. However, it is his involvement with Goodwill Industries that stands out. For more than 50 years, he has volunteered on the local, national and international levels.
“I have deep respect for the work they do,” says Courtney of the organization that provides education, skills training, jobs and services for people with disabilities and other specialized needs.
For his commitment to advancing its mission, Goodwill Industries International named Courtney the 2014 Elsine Katz Volunteer Leader of the Year. He received the award at the annual Goodwill Delegate Assembly in Austin June 29.
Courtney recently garnered another accolade when he was inducted into Goodwill’s Hall of Fame.
He first joined the board of directors of Fort Worth Goodwill in 1964. He went on to serve as a member of Goodwill’s national board for 16 years. He also served on the boards of Goodwill Global and the Goodwill Industries International Foundation. He is famous for his fundraising skills, spearheading an $8.5 million capital campaign for the construction of several local Goodwill facilities.
From custom-made cowboy boots that sport the Goodwill logo to the Goodwill lapel pin he rarely leaves home without, Courtney often dresses the part of “Mr. Goodwill,” an affectionate nickname he has earned in the business community. He was instrumental in the development of a business advisory council that meets quarterly to recommend new directions and opportunities for the agency. He also attends every Goodwill graduation ceremony, an event that honors program participants for achieving their training goals.
“Will serves as a wonderful role model to his peers in the business community,” says Jim Gibbons, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International.
Courtney, who studied real estate at what is now SMU’s Cox School of Business, owns and manages Courtney & Courtney Properties, a 54-year-old company in his native city of Fort Worth. He has managed shopping centers and business properties in Fort Worth and Dallas – including the block that houses the 7-Eleven store across from the SMU campus – as well as Colorado Springs, Colorado. He also has managed ranches in Fort Worth and Dumas, Texas.
His community engagement extends to service on the boards of the Fort Worth Air Power Council, Outdoor Sportsmen’s Club, Fort Worth Public Library Foundation, Fort Worth Air and Space Museum, National Jewish Respiratory Hospital and Downtown Fort Worth Rotary Club, among many others.
In 2013 Courtney was honored during the Association of Fundraising Professionals National Philanthropy Day celebration in Fort Worth. He was nominated by the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth Foundation for the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award in recognition of his campaign leadership that enabled the facility to expand its accommodations for families.
Courtney also is known for his role with the Van Cliburn Foundation, where his passions for classical music and philanthropy intersect. Won over by the piano virtuosity of the late Van Cliburn, he was among the first civic leaders to recognize the potential of the international music competition. As a director of the Foundation, he has worn many hats as “The Cliburn” has grown to include a contest for amateur musicians, a free community concert series and music education initiatives.
Despite the accolades he has earned, Courtney remains modest about his contributions.
“I support organizations I believe in, that are good for the community as a whole,” he explains. “It’s the right thing to do.”
– Patricia Ward
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