SAN DIEGO, CA (July 29, 2013) -- At the North Island Credit Union’s Board of Directors meeting, Director, Al George, retired from the Board after serving the credit union industry for 65 years, 17 years at North Island Credit Union.
As a young adult, Al George started in uniform with the U.S. Marine Corps and was called into action for four years during WWII (3 major campaigns and 26 months overseas). He has never forgotten the importance of serving those who serve our country – the beginning of his “people helping people commitment.”
Al George’s volunteer credit union activities began in 1948 as a director of SDG&E Credit Union (now Financial 21 Credit Union) while he was a 43-year utility engineer for the company. In 1951 he became President of the Board of that credit union and a Director of the California Credit Union League (CCUL). He also served as past chair of the Credit Union National Association and was a former director of the World Council of Credit Unions. In 1953 he joined Central Credit Union during its organization effort and continued 43 years of volunteer service for Central until its 1996 merger into North Island Credit Union. He served on North Island Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee after the merger, and in 1998 began serving on the Board of Directors, including a three-year term as Board Chair.
Among his many accomplishments as a volunteer in the credit union movement, he looks with pride on his activities in helping to organize Central Credit Union, Camp Pendleton Credit Union (now Pacific Marine Credit Union) and Wescorp.
He was also involved in the development of CUNA’s share draft program and the reorganization of the World Council of Credit Unions.
Al George is a recipient of numerous honors and awards including the prestigious Leo Shapiro Award of the CCUL. He received the CCUL Volunteer of the Year Award and the President’s Award from Dave Chatfield to honor his volunteer legacy. He was named DCUC Director of the Year in 2001 and CUES Director of the Year in 2003.
“Al epitomizes the volunteer spirit of credit unions, having volunteered for more than half a century to promote our cooperative cause,” said Rebecca Collier, North Island Credit Union Board Chair. "He has been a mentor and role model for many of us. His legacy will be a host of committed and active volunteers who have been positively influenced by this remarkable man."
About North Island Credit Union
North Island Credit Union, chartered in 1940 to serve the military and civil service at Naval Air Station North Island, now serves consumer and small business members in San Diego, Riverside and Orange Counties in California. The $1.1 billion credit union has ten branches, 79,000 members and 268 employees.