In Memoriam: Two Credit Union Leaders

The credit union community is mourning the recent loss of two industry leaders, Tim Haegelin, a retired president/CEO and co-founder of Credit Unions for Kids, and Nick Owens, a legendary Washington connector and advisor who is being remembered for becoming the face of the NCUA and credit unions throughout the nation’s capital.

Haegelin, who served as president/CEO of the $612 million Generations Federal Credit Union in San Antonio, Texas from 1980 to 2012, died on Oct. 27 in New Braunfels, Texas.

He was 76.

In 1986, he co-founded Credit Unions for Kids. At the time of his retirement, CU4Kids had raised more than $100 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the nation.

Before joining Generations, Haegelin served as president/CEO of Central Texas Catholic Credit Union from 1967 to 1979, and he also worked with other credit unions prior to that time. In 2014, Haegelin was honored with the Herb Wegner Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement. He served the credit union movement for more than 49 years.

Memorial donations can be made to Credit Unions for Kids at cu4kids.org.

Nick Owens succumbed to cancer in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 24 surrounded by loved ones. He was 45.

Nick moved to the nation’s capital in 2001 to serve on the transition team for former President George W. Bush. He then served as the assistant to former NCUA Chair Dennis Dollar and as director of external affairs for the independent federal agency through 2006.

“Nick was instrumental in the success of my NCUA chairmanship, but he was more than that,” Dollar said. “Nick Owens became a face for NCUA and credit unions throughout Washington that still benefit the agency and industry today.”

After leaving the NCUA, Owens was appointed as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s national ombudsman and assistant administrator for regulatory enforcement fairness. In 2009, he launched Magnolia Strategy Partners, a bipartisan government relations and corporate strategic consulting firm, which advocated for small businesses across the country.

In 2016, he joined President Donald Trump’s transition team as an economic/business issues advisor.

The Owens family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Nick Owens Memorial Fund to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.