SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Golden 1 Credit Union is mourning the loss of longtime marketer and former Senior Vice President Dave Thompson.
The 71-year-old helped lead the credit union's marketing efforts for 27 years until his retirement in July 2004.
Thompson's career in advertising began with a position as a writer at KAKE-TV in Wichita, Kan., in 1959. After serving as creative director with a Denver advertising agency, he moved to Sacramento in 1967 and worked as part owner of a local ad agency.
After Thompson joined the credit union in 1977, The Golden 1 grew from $100 million in assets and less than 80,000 members to over $5 billion in assets and more than 550,000 members. Thompson also played key roles in the advocacy of credit unions, serving as a charter member on the Marketing Association of Credit Unions. He also served on the advisory committee for the Sacramento Valley Marketing Association.
"Dave's energy and passion for both marketing and the credit union industry played a vital role in The Golden 1 growing into California's leading credit union," said Golden 1 President/CEO Teresa A. Halleck. "His creative vision and genius played an important role in the credit union's exponential growth between 1977 and his retirement in 2004."
Known for his proper attire with a creative flare, Thompson was only rarely sighted in anything more casual than a dress shirt, jacket and tie. He took special pride in his collection of Jerry Garcia ties. Dave attended Metro College in Denver and the University of Colorado, Denver, extension. He also attended the University of
Wisconsin via correspondence while serving as an Airman 2/C in the United States Air Force.
He is survived by a son, Jared J. Thompson who resides in Indiana, a brother and four sisters.
