Lloyd Jones, chairman of the $25 million Mattel Federal Credit Union of El Segundo, Calif. and a CU volunteer for 44 years, has been named "Director of the Year" for 2009.Jones, a retired executive of the toy firm and described as a "living legend" among southern California CU boards, won the honor during the National Directors Convention Aug. 7 in Las Vegas.Jones has long been credited with helping the single sponsor CU remain viable during difficult times and overseeing its successful advocacy for employees of the California-based toy firm while steering them to CU products.In particular, the judges cited Jones' role in supporting employees in obtaining financial service benefits which figured in Mattel being named last year as one of the Fortune 500 "Top 100 Companies to Work For."In nominating Jones, the CU noted that its chairman had "fought and avoided acquisition during Mattel FCU's lowest point with its net worth nearing prompt correction action in the 1980s."Particularly extraordinary, said the CU, is that Mattel FCU has a "shared CEO and technology and compliance officer" with two other California CUs, a concept Jones has helped foster.Jones, the former director of facilities at Mattel Inc. who started working at the firm in 1962 "when toys were manufactured in a garage in Culver City" joined the CU board as a director in 1964.In a statement, Jon Hernandez, president/CEO of Mattel FCU, congratulated Jones on "well deserved recognition" considering "his leadership and dedication" over the years exemplifies the CU mission.Among his accomplishments, the judges also noted his service as an interim CEO for 15 months in the 1990s when a former CEO became sick. He also championed rent-free space for the CU in Mattel's headquarters.At the Las Vegas ceremony, Jones was joined by his family and other members of small California CUs managed by Hernandez and others in the group. They included Betty J. Wright, chairman of CalCom FCU, Andy Doyle, chairman of City of Downey FCU and other volunteers from CareConnections FCU, LA Healthcare FCU and Southern California Postal CU.The National Directors Convention is an annual fete drawing hundreds of CEOs and volunteers from across the U.S. and is sponsored by a Maryland financial publisher.–[email protected]