OKLAHOMA CITY–This is “Marvin Cottom Day” across Oklahoma with honors pouring in including from the state's governor, Brad Henry, for 65-year-old Marvin Cottom, a credit union icon on both the state and national stages as the retiring president/CEO of Weokie CU.

“There aren't many in the credit union community like Marvin who have given so many years of service to the same credit union while also contributing so much to this industry,” said D. J. Morrow, executive vice president of the Oklahoma Credit Union League which helped organize the tribute to Cottom, who officially retires today.

Cottom, who has been with Weokie since its founding in 1970, is a former vice chairman and national director of CUNA, first vice chairman and secretary of the World Council of Credit Unions and a member of the Credit Union Executive Society's Hall of Fame. He is a charter director for the Oklahoma Credit Union Service Centers

Cottom has been credited for his work toward allowing CUs to expand beyond their original employer groups and was prominent in implementing share drafts by gaining access to the Federal Reserve System.

Succeeding Cottom at the $571 million Weokie is Brent Taylor, executive vice president who also serves as chairman of Southwest Corporate.