The African-American Credit Union Coalition (AACUC), will be inducting three credit union leaders into its Hall of Fame during an induction reception at the Credit Union National Association Governmental Affairs Conference (CUNA GAC) in Washington DC, Tuesday, February 25. Dr. Willie Bryant (posthumously), Herbert “Bertie Bowman” and Mike Mercer.
Bryant was a civil rights activist and volunteer at Rockland Employees Federal Credit Union for over 20 years. He was also a founding member of the AACUC and the first Chairman of the Reaching Toward the Future Internship Program.
Arriving in the nation's capital in 1944, Herbert “Bertie” Bowman is the longest-serving African-American staff member on Capitol Hill. From sweeping the steps to working in the coffee shop and the Capitol barbershop—Bowman held several jobs in the Senate, ultimately rising to become assistant hearing coordinator for the U.S. Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, one of the most powerful committees in Congress. He has been a board volunteer at United States Senate Federal Credit Union since 1975.
Mercer recently retired as the CEO of the League of Southeastern Credit Unions & Affiliates. In this capacity, he was responsible for providing leadership for trade association services across a three-state footprint to include Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Mercer represented the interests of credit unions in numerous ways for almost four decades.
“We are excited to induct these great contributors to the credit union movement,” said Adrian Johnson, AACUC Chairman of the Board.
The Induction will be held at the Marriott Marquis in Downtown, Washington DC during the AACUC Networking Meeting Reception.