Recipients of the 25th Annual Wegner Awards |
 | Lifetime Achievement | |  Rick Craig
Retired President/CEO
America First Federal Credit Union
In recognition of his outstanding leadership and numerous contributions to the credit union system, the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) is pleased to announce Rick Craig, former President and CEO of America First Federal Credit Union in Ogden, Utah, as the winner of the 2013 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement.
“For many of us, helping people is a passion,” said Bob Schumacher, NCUF Awards & Recognition Committee Chairman. “But for our 2013 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement winner, it is a lifetime of hands-on work. No matter if it’s teaching at Western CUNA Management School, fighting for credit unions in the Utah State Legislature, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. or serving on countless local, state, or national organizations that make a difference, Rick is there in full force.”
After graduating high school, Craig worked with the National Security Agency in Turkey listening in on communications from across the Soviet border, where he became proficient in code and computer programming. When he left the military, he settled in Utah where he continued to do sophisticated computer work for the federal government.
Craig earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics with a minor in physics from Weber State University and a Master’s Degree in engineering from the University of Utah. He also taught mathematics and data processing at Weber State University
Craig soon moved to America First FCU and became Executive Vice President in 1977. In 1997, he was appointed President and CEO of America First FCU.
“I know Rick received many inquiries from search firms inviting him to apply for CEO positions, but he said no to them all,” said James D. Likens, President and CEO, Western CUNA Management School and Chairman of the Board of First City Credit Union. “He has been an incredibly effective CEO. On his watch, the credit union has achieved $5.4 billion in assets, 575,000 members and 100 branches.” |
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| Individual Achievement | | 
Hubert Hoosman
President/CEO
Vantage Credit Union
In recognition of his leadership roles in various organizations and tireless commitment to the credit union philosophy, the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) is pleased to announce Hubert H. Hoosman, Jr., President and CEO of Vantage Credit Union in Bridgeton, Mo., as the winner of the 2013 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Individual Achievement.
“Hubert Hoosman’s dedication to moving the credit union world forward is also visible in all of the local, regional, national and international endeavors in which he has been involved,” said NCUF Awards & Recognition Committee Chairman Bob Schumacher. “He is truly a renaissance credit union leader and deserving of the 2013 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Individual Achievement.”
A native of East St. Louis, Ill., Hoosman graduated from high school with a full basketball scholarship from the University of Missouri- St. Louis, and in 1982, he landed his first job as a teller for Educational Employees Credit Union (the credit union changed its name to Vantage Credit Union in 2002). Over the past thirty years, Hoosman has held several management positions while climbing the credit union ladder, including Loan Department Manager, Branch Manager, Vice President of Operations, Executive Vice President, and President/CEO of the credit union since 1994.
When Hoosman started his career at the credit union in 1982, the asset size of the credit union was $34 million. Today, Vantage Credit Union is the fourth largest credit union in Missouri, with assets approaching $700 million.
Hoosman took the lead nationally with credit unions in helping to recognize Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by raising funds for a national monument which now stands in Washington, D.C. In 2006, Hoosman’s own credit union, Vantage Credit Union, donated the first $50,000 dollars. Hoosman then led the charge in organizing credit unions across the country to raise funds for the memorial. Working with AACUC, Hoosman was able to secure the support of 134 credit unions, 13 credit union leagues, 3 corporate credit unions, industry trade associations, and 6 credit union service organizations across America. |
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Outstanding Program |  Credit Union Miracle Day
Through its family of races benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Credit Union Miracle Day has made a significant impact in the credit union industry. In recognition of its efforts raising national awareness of credit unions, local community partnerships and fundraising, the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) is pleased to announce Credit Union Miracle Day as the winner of the 2013 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Outstanding Program.
“Credit Union Miracle Day is one of those rare and special events that seems to grown into a level of influence and prominence in such as small amount of time that is hard to comprehend its entirety,” said NCUF Awards & Recognition Committee Chairman Bob Schumacher. “It encompasses not only raising funds for a worthy cause, but also has an impact on credit union advocacy that is almost unmatched in its power. It is certainly a Wegner winner!”
“We are so honored to be recognized and to receive this prestigious award,” said Credit Union Miracle Day (CUMD) Chairman, Juri Valdov. “It’s been a tremendous team effort which entails countless volunteer hours from our board and committee members, but it is all worth it for the children, the credit unions and the community.”
Credit Union Miracle Day is the largest national credit union event for Credit Unions for Kids, which is a nonprofit collaboration of credit union organizations engaged in fundraising activities to benefit Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. CUMD started with the 2002 credit union sponsorship of its now flagship event, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run® in Washington, D.C. Last year, CUMD expanded their cause to a family of races benefiting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through Credit Unions for Kids, adding the new Credit Union SacTown Ten-Mile Run in Sacramento, Calif., and two Freedom Runs for American troops overseas, including one at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait and one at Wiesbaden Army Garrison, Germany, all held on or around the same day. To date, Credit Union Miracle Day has generated over $5.5 million for 136 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the country.
“The Credit Union Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run is the most successful in terms of dollars raised for a one-day Credit Unions for Kids event benefiting Children’s Miracle Network,” said Tom Sargent, Director at First Tech Federal Credit Union and former Chairman of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Board of Trustees. “The race started with $50,000 raised in 2002 and continues to reach new heights. In fact, just this year, $515,000 was raised for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals nationwide through the Credit Union Cherry Blossom and SacTown Runs.” |
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