ARLINGTON, Va.–Ken Robinson, the long-time president of NAFCU who led the organization during challenging times for federal credit unions during the late 1990s, has died.
Robinson led NAFCU as president and CEO from 1984 to 2000, joining the trade group after a long career in the military, including reaching the rank of Commanding General of the Marine Corps. base at Camp Pendleton in California.
Robinson, who spent 33 years in the Marine Corps, also served in the Korean war, and eventually settled in Waco, Texas.
Robinson also had significant experience with credit unions prior to joining NAFCU, including serving on the board of three credit unions and as a management consultant for the National Credit Union Administration.
Robinson led NAFCU during the tumultuous time in the 1990s when a banker’s lawsuit originally filed in North Carolina led to scrutiny of NCUA’s expanded interpretation of what comprised field of membership. That lawsuit eventually reached the Supreme Court, which issued a decision that went against credit unions and threatened to put a lid on any membership expansion by federal charters. That decision was eventually overcome after credit unions succeeded in getting The Credit Union Membership Access Act (HR 1151) through Congress, the charge for which was led by a joint CUNA-NAFCU effort that included Robinson.
“General Robinson was an extraordinary leader, a compassionate man and consummate credit union advocate,” NAFCU CEO Dan Berger said. “Throughout his 16 years leading NAFCU, he was a true champion, and his efforts culminated in one of the most important legislative campaigns ever waged for the industry – preservation of multiple-group charters through passage of the 1998 Credit Union Membership Access Act. Ken laid the early groundwork for much of credit unions’ growth in recent years, and he did it by keeping his eye on what was important to credit unions and to their future. His contribution to the industry and to NAFCU has been enormous, and he will be greatly missed.”
"There are few folks, if any, that I respected--and truly liked--more than Ken Robinson," said former NCUA Chairman Dennis Dollar, principal at Dollar Associates, Birmingham, Ala. "He left a lasting legacy in credit union land, contributed greatly to this industry and will be absolutely missed by everyone who knew him. Ken was not only a credit union champion--he was a great American patriot who loved his country and served it with distinction."