WASHINGTON—Long-time credit union leader Doug Duerr has died. Mr. Duerr, who led NASCUS for many years and was also VP of political affairs at CUNA, was 73.
Duerr served as CUNA’s vice president of political affairs for 10 years, starting in 1978, and as the CEO of NASCUS from 1993 to 2003.
“Duerr is remembered as creating the Credit Union Legislative Action Council (CULAC), the political action committee of CUNA. CULAC raised a record $4.8 million in the 2015-16 election cycle,” CUNA said in a statement.
In a statement published by CUNA, Dick Ensweiler, now president/CEO of the Cornerstone Credit Union League, said, “Doug had the vision to create CULAC... he kept persuading us that this distasteful notion of giving money to support politicians was crucial and that it would eventually become appreciated in the credit union community. He understood that leagues had to take the lead and engage credit unions locally, and pushed us incessantly. It was the right thing to do and we appreciated his persistence.”
Ensweiler also remembered Duerr as being “gracious while leading and encouraging us to understand that being political--not partisan--was important to our long-term success.”
John McKechnie, senior partner at Total Spectrum and former CUNA senior vice president of government affairs, also remembers Duerr as an innovator, CUNA said.
“Doug was a builder, and someone who saw the tremendous political potential of the credit union movement. His work on the campaign to preserve our tax exemption in 1986 was exemplary, and he also did a tremendous job with NASCUS after leaving CUNA,” McKechnie told CUNA. “Doug hired me off the Hill in 1987; he was a friend and mentor, and I will miss his wisdom and good cheer."
Duerr also served as director of government affairs and vice president of corporate affairs for the Indiana Credit Union League, and was the founding CEO of Indy Corp CU.