New leadership award to honor Eugene Farley

WASHINGTON-The American Association of Credit Union Leaders (AACUL) has announced the creation of a new leadership award named in honor of the efforts of Eugene H. Farley, who retired in December after 40 years of service to the Virginia Credit Union League. The Eugene H. Farley League Leadership Award will be presented yearly, with the first award to be presented at the 2001 CUNA Governmental Affairs Conference, said an AACUL spokesman. "Gene is an outstanding leader and human being," said Susan Newton, AACUL executive director. "The future recipients of this award can be proud to have been recognized by their peers as demonstrating the qualities that Gene consistently demonstrated." Judges will evaluate nominees for qualifications including: visionary leadership at the state level; focus on cooperation with the CU system; display of personal values of commitment to purpose, service to others and integrity; and substantial participation as a leader (and "co-operator") at the national level. The award has been endowed by a contribution from Richard M. "Doc" Heins, a former CEO of CUNA Mutual. Farley, who joined the VCUL in 1959 as a field representative, was CEO from 1967 to 1999. In addition, Farley also became president/CEO of the DC Credit Union League in 1998.