ODESSA, Texas -- A now-bald James Minge, chairman of the PAC Committee of the Texas Credit Union League, has sacrificed his full head of hair for a bet.
The shearing combined with a challenge to his peers helped raise $8,000 for the PAC, more than has been raised from individual committee members in years.
"My wife didn't think I was so clever, but it's all for a good cause--PAC money," declared Minge, now sporting what he calls "peach fuzz" after he challenged his 25 fellow committee members to each pledge $250.
Committee members meeting here Aug. 27 each took turns buzzing off what Minge described as "a full head of hair on a slightly overweight guy with a fun personality."
Minge, who is senior vice president of business services at Randolph-Brooks FCU in San Antonio, has also become the target of jokes among CU employees and fellow Texas CU executives who have given him new nicknames.
Randolph-Brooks employees have participated in the fun called "extreme PAC makeover" on an intranet site, having selected Dr. Evil from an Austin Powers flick as the winner followed by Mr. Clean, Kojak and Lex Luther, the Superman villain.
"Look, I thought cutting my hair was a lot safer than following the lead of Dick Ensweiler by skydiving," joked Minge, referring to the president/CEO of the Texas league, who once jumped out of an airplane to promote PAC fundraising.
Minge said while his new look is quite a conversation starter, he plans to let it grow out.
