Would you go 37 years without a paycheck?

by TMG

by: Shazia Manus

I was blown away (and that’s an understatement) by the presentation of Clarence Hall Jr.’s story and tribute video shared during the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) Dinner in Washington, D.C. I was truly inspired by how one person could make such a profound impact on so many.

A passionate champion of the credit union movement, Mr. Hall received the 2015 Herb Wegner Lifetime Achievement Award, the credit union movement’s highest national honor celebrating individuals and programs that put belief into action. I had the distinct honor of meeting Mr. Hall and can say it was one of the highlights of my GAC experience.

Mr. Hall is chair of the board and president/CEO of the $1.2 million Issaquena County Federal Credit Union in Mayersville, Miss. He founded the credit union in 1969, following a contentious battle with the State of Mississippi, which had denied African Americans the right to obtain charters and set up not-for-profit organizations. For the first 37 of his 45 years serving the credit union in this capacity, he did so without pay. Clearly, his motivation behind the credit union was to provide a better quality of life for his impoverished community.

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