Court Pendleton receives honor for service to veterans

By David Cordero

Court Pendleton, Outreach Manager and Veterans Service Officer for the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, received a prestigious honor in November — one that was not only much deserved but perhaps long overdue.

The St. George resident received the 2023 Pillar Award at the Unite Conference, an event that coincided with National Veteran Small Business Week. The award recognized Court for his consistent work in going above and beyond for fellow veterans.

In addition to serving our country for 26 years in the U.S. Army National Guard, Court continues to serve Americans in his role at the Utah DVMA, providing a tremendous resource for veterans throughout the region.

Mayor Michele Randall had the opportunity to write a letter of support for the award. Here is a portion of that letter: 

“I’ve had the good fortune to know Court Pendleton for many years, even before I became an elected official for the City of St. George. I have to tell you: Court is one of the best people I know. 

“I got to know Court well when I served on the Veterans Coalition of Southern Utah. Following the death of Lt. Col. Bill Toole, he was able to keep the coalition from dissolving until a more permanent successor could be found. 

“Court is the ultimate connector in our military community, and he does it through his stellar interpersonal skills. Through his friendly and direct manner, he is quickly able to build trust, get to the heart of the matter and help people find the answers to their problems. 

“I have witnessed and heard of many times when Court has gone above and beyond to help veterans. Because of his experiences in the military — including two tours in Iraq and two stateside deployments — he has the empathy needed to relate to fellow veterans, especially those who have struggled with post-traumatic stress.

“On his Linked In page, Court says it best: that he ‘works for the 1 percent that matter — veterans.’ I couldn’t agree more. Congratulations Court for this much-deserved honor and it is an absolute thrill and privilege to call you my friend.”