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When Brent Taylor, the new president/CEO of WEOKIE Credit Union, spoke at the retirement party of his predecessor, Marv Cottom, Brent said he had asked Marv what he wants his legacy to be. Marv told Brent he doesn't want a building or a conference room named after him. To Marv, people matter most. His legacy is his staff.
Marv's party was proof of this people priority. His staff, board, credit union friends, fellow church parishioners, and family were all as honored as I was to be a part of the celebration of his career at WEOKIE.
Some interesting tidbits:
- Marv began his career with in Oklahoma City's WEOKIE Credit Union in 1970, when Brent was three years old!
- WEOKIE had $0 in assets when Marv was hired, and has grown to more than a half a billion dollars in assets.
- 1997 CUES Director of the Year Jack McCurdy has served on WEOKIE CU's board since the credit union's founding.
One of the many celebrants at the retirement party was Marv's fellow CUES Hall of Fame member, Florence Rogers (with Marv at left). Florence was CEO of Federal Employees Credit Union, now Allegiance Credit Union, when it was devastated but not destroyed by the Oklahoma City bombing. Ten years after her retirement, she's vibrant, fun and speaking to others about surviving disaster.
On the flight home to Madison, I reflected on Marv's and Florence's legacies. Since I spoke with both Brent Taylor and Lynette Leonard, Florence's successor, at the party, I know WEOKIE and Allegiance credit unions are in capable hands.
Who will Brent and Lynette pass the torch to many years in the future when they retire? They and all of us who support the credit union movement have an important job to do. We need to live up to Marv's legacy and make sure the next generation of leaders is ready.
Barb Kachelski, CAE, is SVP/chief information officer for CUES.
