ATLANTA – Credit union industry veteran Jerry Anchors, 73, was killed tragically with his wife, Barbara Ann, in an auto accident on Aug. 27. Anchors began his professional career at the Alabama Credit Union League and rose through the ranks to manage credit unions in Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. In 1988 he became president of the National Credit Union Management Association (NCUMA). He was also a member of CUNA's "Founder's Club" in recognition of having organized some 40 new CUs in the southeast. Anchors was inducted in August 2000 as one of the first five members of the Defense Credit Union Council Hall of Fame, and he received a commendation from the Pentagon for his services in the reorganization of credit union services to military personnel. DCUC President Roland "Arty" Arteaga said Anchors' death marks "a sad day for the Defense Credit Union Council because we've lost one of our founding fathers and early leaders, a true visionary." Arteaga said Anchors chaired the steering committee in 1962 that pulled together the organization plan for DCUC, and it was Anchors and four others who approached the CUNA executive committee in February 1963 to formally organize DCUC. "There's no doubt he made a huge impact on the Council and was instrumental in us being born," said the DCUC President. In addition to his involvement with DCUC, Arteaga said Anchors played a key role in establishing credit unions overseas during 1960-1963. He was part of a five-person team that went to Japan to assess financial services problems U.S. troops were having there and reported back his findings to the Pentagon. That report, said Arteaga, was the basis for establishing credit unions on the Pacific and European side. Funeral services for Anchors and his wife were held Aug. 31. They are survived by four children, 12 grandchildren, and one great grandchild.