OGDEN, Utah – Shelley Clarke, who built a sleepy railroad workers’ credit union into the Beehive State’s third largest, died last week from brain cancer.
Clarke was a junior partner when, in the face of a threat to tax state charters, Goldenwest joined Utah giants Mountain America CU and America West CU in 2003 and converted to a federal charter, precipitating a mass exodus from the state charter. The exodus, which cost the state millions in annual fees, served as a model for dealing with credit union tax fights in other states.
Clarke, who retired last September as her illness progressed, spent 37 years at Goldenwest, beginning at the teller line and working her way to the corner office. She held or managed almost every position in the credit union, and was promoted to CEO in 2001.
During that time the credit union, which was chartered in 1936 by six railroad employees, grew from $190 million in assets to $775 million, and more than doubled its membership from 41,000 to 83,000.
Clarke served on the NAFCU board until her retirement and was honored as Woman of the Year by the Ogden chapter of the Professional Business Women of America. She was recognized as one of the top businesswomen in Utah in 2001. Her credit union, Goldenwest, received NAFCU’s Federal Credit Union of the Year Award in 2007.
She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she held several callings.
