WICHITA, Kan. – James Holt, the former president/CEO of the Colorado and Wyoming Credit Union Leagues and a Wichita lawyer, is slated to take over Mid American CU here at yearend. Holt, a former lobbyist with the Kansas CU League who was ousted from his job at the Colorado League in September, 2003, has been named executive vice president of the Wichita CU and is in line to become president/CEO on Dec. 31. Holt will succeed Lowell Richardson, the departing Mid American CEO who is retiring after 14 years in the top job at the $120 million Kansas CU, Wichita's third largest. "This is a good fit for us," said Richardson noting Holt's long experience handling business for Kansas CUs. Holt was let go by the board of the Colorado League for reasons not fully explained but understood to center on problems with League directors and state lawmakers. "Jim has been involved in Kansas credit unions all his life and we're pleased he is joining us," said the 63-year-old Richardson. Holt began work at Mid American May 24. Prior to joining the Colorado League, Holt was executive vice president of the Kansas Credit Union Association and a loan officer with Credit Union 1 in Topeka. Holt was replaced at the Colorado League in March by 52-year-old John Dill, a former Washington, D.C. lawyer and top advisor to former Democratic Gov. Roy Romer. The League said it had selected Dill because of his broad lobbying background. Dill had previously headed up his own Denver consulting firm with blue chip clients including Kerr-McGee and J. P. Morgan. The retiring Richardson was named president and CEO of Mid American in 1990. He formerly was senior vice president of retail banking at Mid Kansas Federal Savings & Loan. -

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