DENVER, Colo. – John P. Sheehy, the top lobbyist for the Colorado Credit Union League more than 30 years before retiring in 2004, has passed away.
Mr. Sheehy joined the Colorado League (now part of the Mountain West Credit Union Association) in 1973 and served as its executive vice president overseeing governmental affairs, public relations, member services and operations.
“John Sheehy represented the best of the credit union movement,” said Carroll Beach, former president/CEO of the Colorado Credit Union League. “He was an excellent futuristic strategist and an exceptional legislative and regulatory advocate. The progressive and enabling Colorado credit union statute is due to his exceptional efforts.”
Sheehy was also assistant treasurer of Colorado Corporate Federal Credit Union during the organization's first two years, and served on several national credit union committees including the first chairman of the Dues-Supported Services Committee of the American Association of Credit Union Leagues.
“John truly made a lasting impact on the credit union movement through his diligent work over the years to shape the laws for credit unions," said Scott Earl, president of the Mountain West Credit Union Association that now serves Colorado. “He had a true credit union heart and as he met with lawmakers they could see he believed in what he was doing.”
Sheehy also served as a director of Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Denver for many years. He was appointed by three Colorado governors–Richard Lamm, Roy Romer and Bill Owens—to serve on the Council of Advisors on Consumer Credit. First appointed to the Council in 1977, he was serving in his ninth term and as chairman at the time of his retirement.