SSFCU Names First Director Emeritus

SAN ANTONIO – Security Service Federal Credit Union has named Cliff Turner (USAF-Ret) its first Director Emeritus. Turner has been a credit union volunteer since 1956, having participated on its board since 1959. He served as chairman in 1987. Turner’s volunteer career with the credit union started when he put up signs all around Security Hill at San Antonio’s Kelly Air Force Base early one Saturday morning to advertise the newly-formed credit union. The following Monday, when his commanding officer demanded all the posters be taken down, Turner never confessed to being the one who put up the signs. During the `60s and `70s Turner visited more than 37 military command units, including overseas locations, to promote credit union membership. His efforts played a major role in SSFCU’s early rapid membership growth. Because of his dedication and initiative, Turner helped bring low-cost financial services to thousands of military personnel stationed around the world, many in remote and isolated locations, who did not have access to a financial institution. He is credited with playing a key role in the establishment of the first SSFCU military branches in Korea, Japan, England and Greece in the 1960s. In 1979, Turner was named NAFCU’s “Volunteer of the Year” for his “active, untiring support of credit unions whether he’s helping credit unions in the southwest region or carrying the credit union message to Congress.” Of all the efforts Turner has been involved in, he is proudest of being a member of the SSFCU team and the time spent promoting financial literacy to high school students. “We did the unthinkable in 2000 and opened a branch at a high school with students to run it,” says Turner. “Who would have thought you could entrust a branch to a bunch of high school seniors?” The project garnered SSFCU numerous awards for its innovative community involvement and commitment to the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.”