LAUREL, Md. – Robert “Bob” Byroad, who built the National Security Agency’s credit union into what is now $2.3 billion Tower FCU, died on Christmas Day at 81.
Byroad, who was born in nearby Arlington, Va., went to work at the suburban Washington credit union, which serves the nation’s spy agency, in 1959 as its office manager. He became general manager in 1978, and built it from $400,000 in assets to $690 million by the time he retired in 1994. During that time he expanded it from one, on-base location at the NSA, the Department of Defense sponsoring organization, to a network of 12 branches both on-site and in the community.
He was succeeded as CEO of Tower by Martin Breland, who continues to head the $2.3 billion credit union.
