MADISON, Wis. – Rick Craig, president/CEO of America First Credit Union in Ogden, Utah, has been named winner of the 2013 Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement by the National Credit Union Foundation.
Craig is being recognized for a long and diverse list of contributions to credit unions during his career, the Foundation said.
“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.”
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 BS 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.
In 1977, Craig moved to America First as EVP, and was named president/CEO in 1997. During his career the credit union has grown to $5.4 billion in assets, 575,000 members and 100 branches.
Craig has held positions with the Utah league, on the Utah Board of Credit Union Advisors, on the CUES Board (he was CUES Executive of the Year in 2004), on the Filene Research Council, on the board of CO-OP Financial Services and more. He has been very active in Western CUNA Management School and in political advocacy.
Craig will be recognized with the Herb Wegner award at the Herb Wegner Memorial Awards dinner Feb. 25 in Washington.
