CHAPTER LEADERS FROM THE PAST THE “WHO ARE WE?” QUIZ SHOW

The first Illinois Credit Union Chapter was formed in 1930 and subsequently named after this man. Who is he and what’s the Chapter’s current name?

This is Ralph Long who chartered the Decatur Wabash Credit Union in He was a founding organizer of CUNA in 1934 and then held the ICUL Chair in After his death in 1940, the Central Illinois Chapter was named after him.... until it was changed to its current name, the Greater Decatur Chapter.

This man was the Managing Director of the ICUL between 1932 and The Clearing Chapter was named after him. Later this Chapter was merged twice in quick succession. Who is he, and what is his current Chapter affiliation?

This is Joseph S DeRamus. Editor of the Rock Island Railroad Magazine until 1932, he lost his job to the Depression and quickly took the new position of Managing Director of the ICUL. The DeRamus Chapter is now part of the Chicago Metro Chapter.

This man helped establish over 1,000 credit unions in his lifetime, including many in the Chicago area. The Illinois Chapter named after him includes one of the largest and smallest credit unions in Illinois. Who is he?

This is Thomas W. Doig, the current namesake for what was once the Lake County Chapter. Doig became Managing Director of CUNA in The Doig Chapter is home to Baxter Credit Union ($1.4 Billion) and Mt. Zion Credit Union ($250,000)

Frank Seminara founded four credit unions in the 1950’S and was ICUL Chairman between A child Immigrant from Sicily and Bridgeport neighbor of Richard M. Daley, Frank would share a Chapter name with his friend.... James Jackson chaired one credit union and helped found another in Chicago’s Morgan Park area. Through the Chicago Urban League and the ICUL, he pushed saving for school among young people. The Seminara/Jackson Chapter was originally what Chapter, and what Chapter is it in now?

Seminara and Jackson had the Southwest Chapter named after them. Seminara/Jackson is now part of the Chicago Metro Chapter.

In 1947, the East Central Chapter changed its name in honor of this man. He helped found half a dozen credit unions in the 1930s, and began working for the Illinois League in 1938 to help organize more. Who is he and what’s the university credit union he helped found in the Chapter named after him?

The East Central Chapter was established in 1937 and was subsequently named the John L. Kelly after the man who helped found the University of Illinois Employees Credit Union.

Bill Brietzke is one of the most well-known credit union promoters in the world. Over the span of 25 years, he organized and grew credit unions in the State and nation, was Managing Director of ICUL, promoted a national ad Campaign, and much more. What is the one credit union organization he helped found for which he is little known?

Bill Brietze, for whom the Central Chicago Chapter was renamed, used his position as Managing Director of the ICUL to promote and help establish the World Extension Dept at CUNA. Today, it is known as the World Council of Credit Unions with over 200 million members in 100 countries, and over $1.75 trillion in assets.

The Stumper: One man exemplified the early days of organization, motivation and sheer force of will, fighting the established money lenders and then the Great Depression. The other man came during the “Golden Era” of the 50’s, the growing up period when good financial management, liquidity and big ticket loan demand came into prominence. And he played a major role before the Corporates. Who are we?

George G. Burnett, below, was a numbers man from Olin Employees Credit Union. He turned his credit union into a mini- corporate to help other credit unions manage their liquidity during the Boomer years of the 1950’s. And to this day, the Alton-Woods River Chapter retains his name. Harry Perlee, above, was a labor leader in the Rockford area throughout the Great Depression. Charismatic, persuasive and courageous, he had a tremendous impact on the credit union movement in Rockford, and “RACCU” still acknowledges his legacy.