When TMG Vice President of Marketing Georgann Smith and I had the opportunity to meet Clarence Hall Jr., I was inspired by the energy and vigor he possesses at age 90.
I was blown away (and that’s an understatement) by the presentation of Clarence Hall Jr.’s story and tribute video shared during the National Credit Union Foundation (NCUF) Dinner in Washington, D.C. I was truly inspired by how one person could make such a profound impact on so many.
A passionate champion of the credit union movement, Mr. Hall received the 2015 Herb Wegner Lifetime Achievement Award, the credit union movement’s highest national honor celebrating individuals and programs that put belief into action. I had the distinct honor of meeting Mr. Hall and can say it was one of the highlights of my GAC experience.
Mr. Hall is chair of the board and president/CEO of the $1.2 million Issaquena County Federal Credit Union in Mayersville, Miss. He founded the credit union in 1969, following a contentious battle with the State of Mississippi, which had denied African Americans the right to obtain charters and set up not-for-profit organizations. For the first 37 of his 45 years serving the credit union in this capacity, he did so without pay. Clearly, his motivation behind the credit union was to provide a better quality of life for his impoverished community.
During the NCUF dinner, I was touched by the uniqueness of Mr. Hall’s story, especially because it powerfully demonstrates how one person truly can make a difference, be an inspiration and motivate others, in turn, to be impactful. I was particularly moved by the personal stories of people impacted by Mr. Hall’s dedication to the people of his county. We should all be so fortunate to have lifted up so many in a community.
Mr. Hall valued education from a very young age. Because he was often caring for his siblings following the death of his mother, there were times he couldn’t make it to school. Yet, this did not stop him from bringing home his books and working hard to keep up with his classmates. This innate understanding of the power of learning is a quality we see in a lot of great leaders. Mr. Hall’s education, experience and travels during his military service all combined to give him a yearning for more – more for himself, his family and his community members. It goes to show that perseverance truly pays off.
Issaquena is one of the poorest counties in Mississippi, and was the 5th poorest county in the nation in 2011. Mr. Hall’s award recognizes his dedication to and fulfillment of the credit union difference and his altruistic efforts to help the people of Issaquena County attain financial freedom. His work through the credit union has directly impacted the self-worth and quality of life for many in his community.
In countless ways, Mr. Hall is the personification of credit union values and the cooperative nature of credit union membership. He has helped members understand their individual roles in helping to maintain the strength and overall success of the credit union, as well as the personal impact each members’ participation has on the credit union. Please join me in congratulating Mr. Hall on this tremendous, well-deserved honor. As you do, remember the potential to make a difference in a single lifetime is there within each of us.