FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines Federal Credit Union held "A Night with the CEO" on Feb. 12 that featured President/CEO John Tippets.
Tippets shared the story of his father, Joseph Tippets, a former CAA/FAA employee who survived a plane crash in Alaska in January 1943. John Tippets will retire later this year, after 17 years as president/CEO of AAFCU.
In his presentation, John Tippets included quotes from his father about the crash, "We hit a violent downdraft and dropped 4,000 feet almost before we knew it. It was pitch dark and the fog was almost down to the ground, but now and then through a hole we could see peaks or trees flashing by. There was an open spot toward the top and Harold gunned the engine trying to make it. But our right wing hit a tree. I was lying in the dark in the drizzling rain. I called out to the others. There was no answer. All I could hear was the hissing of the hot engine in the snow."
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Since becoming president of AAFCU in 1991, Tippets has led the credit union to substantial growth. AAFCU is now approximately $4 billion in total assets with $2.3 billion in loans outstanding. Prior to 1991, Tippets served for eight years on the AAFCU Board of Directors.
Angela Owens will be taking over as president with Tippets still on board as CEO to smooth the transition.
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