WESLACO, Texas - Antonio and Elodia Elizondo won't be at the gala June 9 in Denver, Colorado to receive the 26th Anniversary Annie Vamper Helping Hands Award from the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions. But building impressive resumes and accumulating honors wasn't what this couple was about anyway. Bestowed upon individuals who have made outstanding contributions to community development credit unions, their low-income memberships and their communities, the Elizondos are being honored posthumously for their 37 years of service to this small south Texas town and the members of Weslaco Catholic Federal Credit Union. Viola Elizondo, Antonio and Elodia's daughter and also current manager of Weslaco FCU, shared with Credit UnionTimes a few memories of her parents. Elodia died in 1995, and Antonio died several months ago. In 1957, the Elizondos were asked if they would provide space in the small grocery store they owned to house what was then St. Joan of Arc Federal Credit Union. "Board members came to see Mom and Dad. They were known to be people of integrity. They also kept long store hours. They asked Mom if she would act as temporary treasurer. Thirty-seven years later she retired as manager," Viola said. The Elizondos built a relationship of trust with community members. At the credit union, people could get financial counseling and products that would meet their individual circumstances. The couple provided rent-free space for the credit union in their store and would even use their own assets to finance a loan, Viola said. The Elizondos had a powerful desire to see not only their own nine children educated but also the children of the community. This commitment led them to personally finance education loans to a Weslaco family with five children. All five attained successful careers, including judgeships in the State Supreme Courts of Alaska and Texas. The store eventually closed, but the Elizondos donated their building and its property to the credit union. "They were totally dedicated to serving their community," Viola said of her parents. By 1975 several new Catholic parishes had been built, so the credit union's name was changed to reflect a growing community. Today, WCFCU has 1,800 members and $2.2 million in assets. Although it has been remodeled, the credit union still retains the original walls from the Elizondos' grocery store. "Locally the credit union is still referred to as Lalita's Credit Union. Lalita was my mom's nickname. People will sometimes apologize, but I tell them there is nothing to apologize for," Viola said. "Professionally, I think my parents are well deserving of this honor. Personally, I am comforted to know that their lives made a difference. This is giving back to them what they gave to the community," she said. Other Annie Vamper Helping Hands Award winners being recognized at the gala are John Stovall of Zion United CU in Denver, Colorado, Charles Green of Cory Methodist FCU in Cleveland, Ohio, and Reverend Carl Brown of Quitman County CD CU in Marks, Massachusetts. -
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