The credit union community is mourning the loss of Dan Plauda, who retired less than two years ago after a long and laudable career with the Illinois Credit Union League.

The 69-year-old Plauda, who served as the league's president/CEO for two decades, passed away over the weekend, the Illinois league announced in a statement Monday.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Dan's family and friends as they deal with this unexpected loss. Dan was a leader for many years in the credit union industry – across the country [and] Illinois – as well as a mentor and friend to many of us,” Illinois Credit Union League President/CEO Tom Kane said. “He hired me nearly 13 years ago and always impressed me as a smart, big-hearted, pragmatic and decisive leader with a great sense of humor and perspective on the challenges of running a successful league and national service corporation.”

In 1984, Plauda was appointed president/CEO of the league and its for-profit subsidiary LSC, becoming only the fourth person to serve in that position since the league was founded in 1930. 

He launched his league career in 1977 when he was hired as the organization's first general counsel by then president/CEO Dick Ensweiler, who serves as president/CEO of the Cornerstone Credit Union League.

According to the league, one of Plauda's first and most important accomplishments was drafting and passing the recodification of the Illinois Credit Union Act in 1979, which ushered in a new era of services the credit union movement could provide to its members.

Plauda also formed the Illinois Credit Union Foundation to benefit the needs of small credit unions throughout the state. For 37 years, the foundation has awarded more than $3 million in scholarships, community service grants, peer assistance, and emergency and natural disaster aid.

To better communicate the needs of credit unions to state lawmakers, Plauda expanded and restructured the league's governmental affairs department and opened a branch office in Springfield, Ill. He also grew the league's Credit Union Political Action Council, which raised more than $368,000 in 2015. 

“I had the privilege of working with Dan for 37 years, the first seven while at a law firm and the last 30 in my role as general counsel of the league and LSC,” the Illinois league's executive vice president and general counsel Stephen R. Olson said. “We enjoyed a great professional relationship and I thank him for giving me the opportunity to serve credit unions in a more intensive and focused manner, by bringing me into the league to succeed him as general counsel in 1984.”

As one of the longest serving CEOs in the country, Plauda served on multiple national organization committees for the American Association of Credit Union Leagues and CUNA. 

After retiring in June 2014, Plauda was inducted into the Illinois Credit Union Hall of Fame.

Aside from applauding his professional achievements, Kane reminisced about the times he worked with Plauda and what he learned from him.

“His management style 'to hire good people and stay out of their way' was very successful in building the premier credit union league and service corporation in the country,” Kane said. “With his tremendous amount of industry experience and knowledge, he was a wonderful sounding board for new ideas or dealing with challenges, as he could engage in discussions on almost any topic and make quick, sound decisions. He will certainly be missed by those of us who were fortunate to work with him over the years.”

Over the years, Olson said he became close friends with Plauda.

“He was a sincere and kind person who truly loved helping credit unions and their members,” Olson said. “He had a keen ability to identify the proper course of action and the right thing to do and, in the process, he was an inspiration to me and all those who worked with him.”