Longtime credit union champion Richard “Dick” Turnley Jr.,former CEO of Southern Parents & Teachers Federal Credit Union,died Jan. 19 at the age of 79 after a long illness.

Turnley's career spanned more than 50 years. In 1959, hestarted working at the $30 million Southern Parents and TeachersFCU in Baton Rouge, La.

For his dedication to the movement, he received the African-American Credit Union Coalition's Pete Crear LifetimeAchievement award in 2008.

During the 1960s, Turnley was instrumental in providingtechnical support to Louisiana's credit unions in parish schoolsystems, according to the AACUC.

Turnley also served on the Louisiana Credit Union League's board from 1993 to 2007.

Selected by the World Council of Credit Unions, Turnley provided technicalassistance to the South Africa Credit Union League and theUniversity of the Western Cape.

In April 1995, he traveled to Cape Town in the Republic of SouthAfrica to assist the emerging credit union movement as a volunteerwith the “People-to-People” program. Throughout the late 1990s, hemade eight trips to the continent to serve as a trainingfacilitator.

Turnley was a fixture in Louisiana, elected to the state's Houseof Representatives in 1972 and serving until 1984 when he waselected to the Senate. He was a founder of the LouisianaLegislative Black Caucus, which formed in 1977.

During his legislative stint, Turnley fought aggressively forthe passage of a Louisiana law that discourages housingdiscriminatory practices.

A wake is scheduled for Friday from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at HallDavis and Sons Funeral Home in Baton Rouge. The funeralservice for Turnley will be held at 11 a.m. Jan. 26 at the CamphorMemorial United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge.