CUES Director Hall of Fame

Director Hall of Fame
Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer.
—Author Unknown
The Credit Union Executives Society would like to honor and thank those in the credit
union community who have generously volunteered their time and their passion to the
movement. CUES® recognizes that directors bring unique talents and experiences to their
credit unions, which make them strong assets to the industry.
For 25 years, CUES has tipped its hat to the volunteers who have bettered their organizations
and in turn, their communities. Now, we are pleased to introduce a new honor that ensures
outstanding directors are not forgotten—the CUES Director Hall of Fame Award.
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1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
Paul Hughes
Charles
DiMercurio
Harry
Deitchman
Bettye P.
Machen
Francis A.
De Mita
Jean Wilkins
Philip S.
Carrier, CCD
DeLon R. Gobeli
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Ruby Clifton
2001
James Likens
Leo C. Pike Jr.
Joseph G.
Iannelli
Ada L. Williams
2002
2003
2004
C. Wendell
Waggoner
J. Alvin
George, CCD
Henry
Wheatley, CCD
Jack D. McCurdy
Roosevelt
Taylor
2005
2006
Dr. John C.
Rawls, CCD
L. Ben
Freudenreich
Eugene N. Ball
2007
Dr. Dorothy J.
Orr
Judy B. Wascom
2008
H. Floyd Tanner
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
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Achievements
1985
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Paul Hughes
Seven Seventeen CU
Warren, Ohio
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1985
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• Paul was a founder of Seven Seventeen Credit Union in Warren,
Ohio, in 1957, and began his service on the board of directors
that year. When he was named the first CUES Director of the Year
in 1985, the credit union’s asset size was $91 million and it had
24,000 members.
Achievements
• Keeping ahead of changes in the industry and networking with
other credit union directors was a priority for Paul and his Board.
Paul Hughes
Seven Seventeen CU
Warren, Ohio
• Seven Seventeen CU had the first ATM in the area—three years
before banks and other financial institutions in the region
offered them.
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1986
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Charles DiMercurio
Anheuser-Busch Employees’
Credit Union
St. Louis
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1986
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• Charlie started as a volunteer on the board of Anheuser-Busch
Employees’ Credit Union in St. Louis, in the mid-1960s and
became chairman in 1983.
Achievements
• Charlie and his board showed a strong commitment to the
credit union, holding frequent, extensive meetings with various
committees in order to ensure that the credit union was best
serving its members.
Charles DiMercurio
Anheuser-Busch
Employees’ CU
St. Louis
• Charlie and his board members were in attendance at CUES’ first
Directors Conference in 1985 in Las Vegas. Charlie said it was
“the most significant thing that has happened to the volunteer.”
• He believed it was important to remember that the purpose
of the credit union is to help the members.
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1987
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Harry Deitchman
MECU of Baltimore Inc.
Baltimore
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1987
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• Harry began his service on the board of directors at MECU
of Baltimore in 1951, and held the chairman’s position in
1987 when he received the CUES Director of the Year award.
Achievements
• Harry contributed to the increase of the credit union’s assets
from $1 million in 1951, to $200 million in 1987. And at that
time, the credit union’s capital-to-assets ratio made it one
of the nation’s strongest credit unions.
Harry Deitchman
MECU of Baltimore Inc.
Baltimore
• Harry believed in the importance of professional development
and encouraged his board members to attend conferences
often, and report back to everyone what they had learned.
Harry himself was a charter member of CUES’ Directors
Educational Forum in 1987.
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1988
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Bettye P. Machen
Naval Air Federal Credit Union
(now Chartway Federal
Credit Union)
Virginia Beach, Va.
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1988
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• Bettye was elected to the Naval Air Federal Credit Union (now
Chartway Federal Credit Union) board of directors in Virginia
Beach, Va., in 1963. As she was in the Naval service at the time,
she was transferred to another location and filled a vacant seat
on the board of Naval Hospital Credit Union, where she served
until retiring from federal service in 1974.
Achievements
• In 1975, Bettye returned to Naval Air Federal Credit Union, where
she served on several committees before being named chairman
of the board in 1984.
Bettye P. Machen
Naval Air Federal CU
(now Chartway Federal CU)
Virginia Beach, Va.
• Bettye tried to make decisions about every member’s money as
though it were her own, and had a strong “members first” attitude.
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1989
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Francis A. De Mita
Nassau Educators Federal
Credit Union
Valley Stream, N.Y.
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1989
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• Frank joined the board of directors of Nassau Educators Federal
Credit Union in Westbury, N.Y., in 1967, and became chairman
in 1971.
Achievements
• He often spent about 15 hours a week performing his duties
as chairman—working at the credit union office, attending
meetings and conferences, writing reports and conferring
with the CEO.
Francis A. De Mita
Nassau Educators
Federal CU
Valley Stream, N.Y.
• The credit union had a strong growth rate during the years of
Frank’s involvement. When he first joined the credit union in
1953, the asset size was $250,000 with 1,500 members, and
in 1989, at the time of his CUES Director of the Year award,
it had grown to $177 million in assets and 40,000 members.
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1990
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Jean Wilkins
Tucson Employees
Credit Union
(now Tucson Old Pueblo
Credit Union)
Tucson, Ariz.
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1990
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• Jean was first elected to the Tucson Employees Credit Union’s
(now Tucson Old Pueblo Credit Union) board of directors in
Tucson, Ariz., in 1963. Ten years later, she took a reprieve before
being encouraged to join the board again in 1980.
Achievements
Jean Wilkins
Tucson Employees CU
(now Tucson Old
Pueblo CU)
Tucson, Ariz.
• Jean became chairman in 1981, and had high expectations of
her board members, who were required to complete 30 hours of
professional development each year, could not miss more than
three board meetings and must complete the CUNA Volunteer
Achievement Program (VAP)—which Jean was the first person in
the state to complete in 1986.
• Jean regularly attended CUES conferences and other educational
opportunities in the credit union movement, including the World
Council of Credit Unions Conference in Australia in 1990.
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1991
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Philip S. Carrier, CCD
Portland Teachers Credit Union
(now OnPoint Community
Credit Union)
Portland, Ore.
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1991
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• Phil began his service on the Portland Teachers Credit Union (now
OnPoint Community Credit Union) board of directors in 1962.
Achievements
• During his tenure, the credit union’s asset size grew from
$3.5 million to $335 million in 1991, the year Phil was named
CUES Director of the Year.
• He completed all 18 modules of CUNA’s Volunteer Achievement
Program, and during this process he earned both the Filene and
Raiffeisen Awards.
Philip S. Carrier, CCD
Portland Teachers CU
(now OnPoint
Community CU)
Portland, Ore.
• Phil was an attendee and speaker at conferences sponsored
by CUES and other credit union movement organizations; he
was also very active on the board of the National Association
of Credit Union Presidents (NACUP), and appreciated the
connections this gave him to other credit union directors.
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1992
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
DeLon R. Gobeli
John Deere Community
Credit Union
(now Veridian Credit Union)
Waterloo, Iowa
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1992
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• DeLon joined the board of directors of John Deere Community
Credit Union (now Veridian Credit Union) in Waterloo, Iowa, in
1974, and remains there today.
Achievements
• DeLon was instrumental in the credit union’s growth from
$23 million in assets to $273 million at the time of his CUES
Director of the Year award.
DeLon R. Gobeli
John Deere Community CU
(now Veridian CU)
Waterloo, Iowa
• Other achievements include implementing ATMs and direct
deposits in 1979, a community charter granted in 1984, a
management and staff succession plan developed in 1990 and
the main credit union office expanded to almost double its size in
1992.
• DeLon also served as president of his local chapter of the Iowa
Credit Union League.
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1993
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Ruby Clifton
First Educators Credit Union
(now Smart Financial
Credit Union)
Houston
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1993
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• Ruby began her credit union involvement in 1954, serving on the
credit committee of Houston Public School Teachers Credit Union
(which was First Educators Credit Union in 1993 and is now Smart
Financial Credit Union) in Houston. In 1957, she joined the board
of directors, and became chairman in 1979.
Achievements
Ruby Clifton
First Educators CU
(now Smart Financial CU)
Houston
• She led the credit union through legal battles and a time of
financial instability during the 1980s. With Ruby’s confidence
and determination, these turbulent times turned around, with a
credit union name change and a plan that restored growth and
quality service.
• At the time of her CUES Director of the Year award, she was
retired from a 39-year career with the Houston Independent
School District. As a testament to her years with the school
district, a school was named after her in 1980—the Ruby Sue
Clifton Middle School.
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1994
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Leo C. Pike Jr.
Fort Knox Federal Credit Union
Radcliff, Ky.
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1994
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• Leo has been involved with the credit union movement since
1956, assisting at a credit union on the island of Oahu, Hawaii,
while he served in the military.
Achievements
• After retiring from active duty in 1974, having achieved the rank
of command sergeant major, he began a full-time position as
director of marketing and public relations at Fort Knox Federal
Credit Union in Radcliff, Ky.
Leo C. Pike Jr.
Fort Knox Federal CU
Radcliff, Ky.
• In 1990, he retired from this full-time position and was elected
to the credit union’s board that same year. Under his leadership,
Fort Knox Federal Credit Union had a 28% loan growth rate, an
ROA of 2.39% and a CAMEL 1 rating by the NCUA.
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1995
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Joseph G. Iannelli
Rhode Island State
Employees Credit Union
(now Rhode Island
Credit Union)
Providence, R.I.
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1995
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• Joe was a founder of Rhode Island State Employees Credit
Union (now Rhode Island Credit Union) in Providence, R.I., in
1946. When a fellow state employee was faced with paying high
medical bills, Joe and others started the credit union to help out
their friend, and others who needed financial assistance. He was
a board member of the credit union for over 50 years.
Achievements
• He was always very involved with his credit union, never missing
a board meeting and stopping by often to visit with members
and staff.
Joseph G. Iannelli
Rhode Island State
Employees CU
(now Rhode Island CU)
Providence, R.I.
• Joe also served on the Rhode Island Credit Union League, as well
as being a director of CUNA.
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1996
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Ada L. Williams
Dallas Teachers Credit Union
(now Credit Union of Texas)
Dallas
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1996
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• Ada began her service as a volunteer for the Credit Union of
Texas (formerly Dallas Teachers Credit Union) in Dallas, in 1981.
Achievements
• She was instrumental in the growth of the credit union between
1981 and 1996. The asset size grew by nearly 300%, from
$139 million to $542 million. The membership number nearly
doubled—from 69,000 members in 1981, to 132,000 in 1996.
Ada L. Williams
Dallas Teachers CU
(now CU of Texas)
Dallas
• Ada was also behind several strategic changes at the credit
union, such as long-range planning and developing the credit
union’s mission statement—Setting the Standard in Financial
Service.
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1997
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Jack D. McCurdy
WEOKIE Credit Union
Oklahoma City, Okla.
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1997
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• Jack was a charter member of the board of directors of WEOKIE
Credit Union in Oklahoma City, when the credit union was
formed in 1969.
Achievements
• He helped the credit union expand by adding SEGs to their
membership in 1975.
Jack D. McCurdy
WEOKIE CU
Oklahoma City, Okla.
• Jack also served on the Oklahoma State Credit Union Board.
Two particularly important decisions were made by the state
board during his tenure—approval of share drafts and approval
of expansion by addition of select employee groups.
• He is a strong believer in continuing education and has attended
many conferences during his credit union career, including CUES’
Directors Conference since 1988 and CUES Annual Convention
since 1977.
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1998
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Roosevelt Taylor
John Deere Community
Credit Union
(now Veridian Credit Union)
Waterloo, Iowa
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1998
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• Roosevelt was elected to the board of directors of John Deere
Community Credit Union (now Veridian Credit Union) in
Waterloo, Iowa, in 1979.
Achievements
• From 1979 until his CUES Director of the Year award in 1998, his
accomplishments included: the growth in assets from $52 million
to $450 million, the expansion of members from 25,000 to 85,000
and the increase of branches from one to 10.
Roosevelt Taylor
John Deere Community CU
(now Veridian CU)
Waterloo, Iowa
• He builds a strong relationship between the members and the
credit union, helping members to understand the products and
services offered and how to best take advantage of them.
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1999
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Eugene N. Ball
Pentagon Federal Credit Union
Alexandria, Va.
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
1999
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• Gene began his service on the board of directors of Pentagon
Federal Credit Union in Alexandria, Va., in 1975, and became
chairman in 1982.
Achievements
• From the beginning of his time on the board until he received
the CUES Director of the Year award, his credit union grew over
1,600 percent, making it one of the largest asset size credit
unions in the country.
Eugene N. Ball
Pentagon Federal CU
Alexandria, Va.
• Gene helped the credit union become one of the first in the U.S.
to establish voice-response systems, allowing members to access
account information 24 hours a day by telephone; create the
first online access to account information; and develop member
financial debt counseling programs.
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2000
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Judy B. Wascom
LA DOTD Federal Credit Union
(now Main Street Financial
Federal Credit Union)
Baton Rouge, La.
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
2000
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• Judy began her service on the board of directors at LA DOTD
Federal Credit Union (now Main Street Financial Federal Credit
Union) in Denham Springs, La., in 1988, and became chairman
in 1993.
Achievements
Judy B. Wascom
LA DOTD Federal CU
(now Main Street
Financial Federal CU)
Baton Rouge, La.
• In 1999, Judy stepped down as chairman to assume the position
of acting CEO just days after retiring from the Louisiana
Department of Transportation and Development after 33 years
of service. In addition to managing the day-to-day affairs of the
credit union, she conducted the nationwide search for a new
president/CEO.
• She was honored in 2000 by the National Association of Federal
Credit Unions as the “Volunteer of the Year” in the less than $100
million in assets category.
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2001
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
James Likens
1st City Savings Federal
Credit Union
(now First City Credit Union)
Glendale, Calif.
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
2001
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• A volunteer of First City Credit Union in Los Angeles since 1978,
James served in a number of capacities including treasurer,
secretary, chair of the strategic planning and asset liability
management committees, chairman of the board, and currently,
director.
Achievements
• He was involved in arranging a merger with another credit union to
strengthen the financial base of the combined organization.
James Likens
1st City Savings Federal CU
(now First City CU)
Glendale, Calif.
• James was extremely involved in the movement, as a credit
union lobbyist, consultant and researcher.
• He assists credit unions with strategic planning, managementvolunteer relationships and becoming financially solvent.
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2002
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
C. Wendell Waggoner
Denver Public Schools
Credit Union
(now Westerra Credit Union)
Denver
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
2002
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• Wendell has been involved with the credit union movement for
over 40 years, serving on various committees before joining the
board of directors of Denver Public Schools CU (now Westerra
Credit Union) in Denver, in 1991.
Achievements
• During Wendell’s tenure on the board of directors, record levels
of growth were achieved for assets, deposits, loans and income.
C. Wendell Waggoner
Denver Public Schools CU
(now Westerra CU)
Denver
• Examples of the credit union’s excellent financial performance
under Wendell’s care include a jump in membership from 24,000
to nearly 34,000, and an increase in total assets from $162 million
to $457 million.
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2003
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
J. Alvin George, CCD
North Island Financial
Credit Union
(now North Island
Credit Union)
San Diego
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
2003
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• Al’s involvement with the credit union industry began in 1948
as a credit union director.
Achievements
• In 1951, Al became president of the credit union’s board and a
director of the California Credit Union League. In 1953, he joined
Central Credit Union and was a volunteer there for 43 years until
it merged with North Island Financial Credit Union.
J. Alvin George, CCD
North Island Financial CU
(now North Island CU)
San Diego
• He is the past president of the California Credit Union League
and is a past chairman of the Credit Union National Association.
He also served as a director of the World Council of Credit Unions.
• Al understands the importance of director education. He
received his Certified Credit Union Director designation by
graduating from CUES’ Directors Leadership Institute.
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2004
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Henry Wheatley, CCD
Fort Knox Federal Credit Union
Radcliff, Ky.
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
2004
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• Henry has served for more than 30 years on the board of
directors of Fort Knox Federal Credit Union in Radcliff, Ky.
Achievements
• Since he has been on the board, the credit union has grown from
a single-sponsor group credit union to a diversified multi-SEG
financial institution. In 2004, at the time of his CUES Director
of the Year award, the credit union had grown from $36 million
dollars in assets to $420 million, making it the second largest
credit union in its state at that time.
Henry Wheatley, CCD
Fort Knox Federal CU
Radcliff, Ky.
• Henry has been a long-time advocate of education as a way
to advance professionally and become a better representative
for his membership. He attended CUES’ Directors Leadership
Institute shortly after it was established and encourages other
board members to become educated in credit union matters.
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2005
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Dr. John C. Rawls, CCD
Florida Credit Union
Gainesville, Fla.
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
2005
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• John has been on the board of directors of Florida Credit Union
in Gainesville, Fla., since 1957. In addition, he filled in as the
interim president/CEO of his credit union for nine months.
Achievements
• He has seen the credit union through two name changes, extend
its presence into nine counties and serves as the sponsor of a
high school credit union.
Dr. John C. Rawls, CCD
Florida CU
Gainesville, Fla.
• He has also been devoted to his education as a board member.
He received the Certified Credit Union Director designation after
attending CUES’ Directors Leadership Institute. And in 1992, the
World Council of Credit Unions recognized him for participating
in its International Credit Union Institute in Prague, Czech
Republic.
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2006
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
L. Ben Freudenreich
BMI Federal Credit Union
Columbus, Ohio
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
2006
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• Ben started his service in 1981 at BMI Federal Credit Union in
Dublin, Ohio, on the credit committee, and was later asked to fill
a vacancy on the board.
Achievements
• He has brought improvement processes to his board by
supporting the use of consent agendas and policy governance.
L. Ben Freudenreich
BMI Federal CU
Columbus, Ohio
• Ben believes in keeping his volunteer skills sharp and regularly
attends national conferences. He shares what he learns at each
conference by faithfully submitting a written report to his board
and credit union management. In addition, he is a frequent
contributor to the CUES Director Net™ e-mail listserve.
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2007
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
Dr. Dorothy J. Orr
BrightStar Credit Union
Sunrise, Fla.
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
2007
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• Dorothy has been a volunteer of BrightStar Credit Union in
Sunrise, Fla., for 21 years, and chairman of the board since 1988.
Achievements
• Under her leadership, the credit union received a top composite
rating of 1 by the State of Florida Office of Financial Regulation.
• As part of her dedication to the credit union movement, she
attends the World Council of Credit Unions Conference and
the CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference annually.
Dr. Dorothy J. Orr
BrightStar CU
Sunrise, Fla.
• As a former Superintendent of Education, she frequently speaks
to local groups about education, children and community issues.
On each occasion, she mentions the role her credit union plays
in serving educators.
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2008
CUES Dir ector
of the Year
H. Floyd Tanner
Mountain America
Credit Union
Salt Lake City
CUES Director
Hall Of Fame
2008
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• Floyd was a board member for 39 years and served as the
chairman for the last 17 years until he recently passed away
on November 24, 2009.
Achievements
• Under his leadership, his credit union has expanded from
10 to 60 branches, saw asset growth of 805% and increased
membership by 185%.
H. Floyd Tanner
Mountain America CU
Salt Lake City
• Floyd budgeted $30,000 each year to the Small Credit Union
Fund, and increased that amount to $100,000 each of the last
two years.
• In addition, he assisted smaller credit unions in attending
the WOCCU conference, as well as providing monetary
support to WOCCU.