SEATTLE — The evening of the AACUC's Pete Crear Lifetime Achievement Award dinner just wasn't the same without its recipient, Leroy Nesbit, but his spirit was certainly felt by many in the room. Nesbit, who has served on the board at Dort Federal Credit Union for 31 years and president of the Council of GM Credit Unions for the past decade, had been awaiting a kidney and received it days before he was to be honored by the AACUC on Aug. 11. The night of the award dinner was filled with words of inspiration, memories and prayers for Nesbit, who was expected to return home sometime this week. "He is a man of class, a man of many means, a brother, a friend," said Harold Holmes, senior vice president, sales division at PFP, Inc., who accepted the award on Nesbit's behalf. Pete Crear, WOCCU president/CEO said Nesbit's outreach is never-ending. "Leroy is no stranger to anyone," Crear said. "When things went sour in the automotive industry, he took the lead," he added, recalling Nesbit's role in bringing together CUs that served automakers. Shirley Jenkins, AACUC conference co-chair and Municipal CU board member, said it was fitting that Nesbit received the new kidney when he did. "God decided he will honor him first," Jenkins said. Nesbit retired from General Motors Corp. in 2003 with 30 years of honorable service and achievements. While at GM, Nesbit served as manager of the Civic Involvement Program, industry government relations and regional business communications integrator facilitator and various positions in operations and production control and logistics. He has received the General Motors Chairman's Award for Excellence in Community Affairs,

Nesbit has also received the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Credit Union League Hall of Fame. He continues to be an active league volunteer having served as chairman and vice-chairman of its annual meetings and on the credentials and governmental affairs committees.