Gene Farley, former president of the Virginia Credit Union League (VCUL) passed away on Dec. 9 at the age of 82.
Farley served as the VCUL president from 1967 until his retirement in 1999.
According to the league, Farley's interest in credit unions began in 1954 when he was elected to the supervisory committee of his credit union, and five years later he joined VCUL as a field representative. VCUL credited Farley with "having influenced every major piece of financial legislation" in Virginia from 1967 until his retirement.
In 2000, Farley received the Herb Wegner Lifetime Achievement Award and upon his retirement, while a new national award, the "Eugene Farley League Leadership Award" was established in his honor.
Farley also served on the board of directors for what is now the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL) from 1972 to 1980, presiding as chairman in 1979 and 1980. His duties over the years included: chairman of AACUL Systems Planning Committee 1983-1984; chairman of the World Council of Credit Unions' Planning Committee 1981-1982; chairman of the AACUL Standards Review Committee 1980-1981; chairman of the CUNA committee that created the League Management Institute at the University of Wisconsin in 1986; chairman of the AACUL Roles and Relationships Committee in 1987; chairman of the CUNA Operation Grassroots Committee in 1990-1991; a member of the Steering Committee of the CUNA Systems Planning Committee in 1986-1987; chairman of U.S. Central Credit Union 1979-1980; director of the World Council of Credit Unions from 1989-1992; and member of the board of directors of CUNA from 1988-1996. He also served on two CUNA Search Committees to select CUNA Presidents.
"Gene will always be remembered for the contributions he made to the credit union system, both here in Virginia and nationally," VCUL president Rick Pillow said in a statement. "It's almost impossible, however, to measure the positive impact his work had on the lives of credit union members and on the success of the movement during his 40-plus-year career."
