In memoriam (Image: Shutterstock).
During the holiday season, the credit union industry lost two distinguished leaders, R.C. "Dick" Robertson, 90, of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Charles Stephen Trimmier Jr., 76, of Birmingham, Ala., who dedicated their long careers to serving and promoting the industry's mission to improve people's lives and social justice.
Robertson, who served as president/CEO for the Arizona State Savings & Credit Union —- now the $2.1 billion OneAZ Credit Union in Phoenix —- for four decades passed away on Dec. 17.
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"During his tenure as CEO he was one of the few modern day pioneers to serve as the chair of the board of CUNA Mutual Group, Credit Union National Association, World Council of Credit Unions, US Central, Arizona State League, Filene Research Institute (for over 10 years) and multiple other organizations," Filene Research Institute President/CEO Mark Meyer wrote in his tribute to Robertson. "He was a catalyst for modernizing credit union laws at the state and federal levels and was a champion for the creation of several organizations that leveraged the cooperative spirit to scale the credit union model from the 50's through the 90's. He was inducted into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in 1998."
Robertson's memorial services were held Jan. 4 at Green Acres Mortuary and Cemetery in Scottsdale. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the charity of your choice or to the Camelback Bible Church, 3900 E. Stanford Drive, Paradise Valley, Ariz., 85253.
Trimmier, who founded a law firm in Birmingham where he practiced with his son, Charles (Chip), and many others, passed away on Jan. 2.
For many years he served as general counsel for the Alabama Credit Union League, the Florida Credit Union League, the Louisiana Credit Union League, the League of Southeastern Credit Unions and the National Association of State Credit Union Supervisors.
Charles Trimmier In addition to the credit union movement, Trimmier's passion extended into social justice issues that led him to invest in the 2006 film Heavens Fall, which was based on the true story of nine African-American teenagers falsely accused of raping two white women in Alabama in 1931.
"We practiced together for a couple of decades before recently selling the practice (in 2012) to younger lawyers we brought in to the firm and trained to carry the torch," Chip Trimmier said. "We had the chance to work together on many projects important to credit unions, including a US Supreme Court (field of membership) case, National Credit Union Administration v. First National Bank & Trust Co., which was first on the docket back in 1997."
Chip no longer practices law and works as a commercial investment advisor in San Carlos, Calif.
Services were held Jan. 6 at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. The family suggests memorial donations may be made to the church at 3775 Crosshaven Drive, Vestavia Hills, Ala., 35223.
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Peter Strozniak
Credit Union Times reporter covering credit union operations, fraud, M&As, leagues, business continuity, and breaking news.
