BEL AIR, Md. – Marita Watts, who founded HAR-CO Maryland Federal Credit Union 50 years ago, was recently inducted into the Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame. Watts was also honored with a Geri, an award given in recognition of extraordinary humanitarian community service. She founded HAR-CO 50 years ago when she was the president of the Teacher's Association of Harford County Public Schools – the first woman to ever hold that position. In 1955 when the county was recruiting teachers, she led the Association and its executive board in recognizing the need for teachers to have access to financial services, a problem given the 10-month payroll system in place at the time. Today, the $147 million CU serves more than 24,000 members. For this year's event, Gov. Robert Ehrlich issued a State Proclamation which declared Oct. 27 as "Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame GERI Day." The Maryland Senior Citizens Hall of Fame was founded in 1987 by a mixed-age group who wished to recognize those state senior citizens who have made exemplary contributions to society.
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