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

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

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

In 1984, Plauda was appointed president/CEO of the league andits for-profit subsidiary LSC, becoming only the fourth person toserve in that position since the league was founded in1930.

He launched his league career in 1977 when he was hired as theorganization's first general counsel by then president/CEO DickEnsweiler, who serves as president/CEO of the Cornerstone CreditUnion League.

According to the league, one of Plauda's first and mostimportant accomplishments was drafting and passing therecodification of the Illinois Credit Union Act in 1979, whichushered in a new era of services the credit union movement couldprovide to its members.

Plauda also formed the Illinois Credit Union Foundation tobenefit 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 andnatural disaster aid.

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

“I had the privilege of working with Dan for 37 years, the firstseven while at a law firm and the last 30 in my role as generalcounsel of the league and LSC,” the Illinois league's executivevice president and general counsel Stephen R. Olson said. “We enjoyed a great professionalrelationship and I thank him for giving me the opportunity to servecredit unions in a more intensive and focused manner, by bringingme into the league to succeed him as general counsel in 1984.”

As one of the longest serving CEOs in the country, Plauda servedon multiple national organization committees for the AmericanAssociation of Credit Union Leagues and CUNA.

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

Aside from applauding his professional achievements, Kanereminisced about the times he worked with Plauda and what helearned from him.

“His management style 'to hire good people and stay out of theirway' was very successful in building the premier credit unionleague and service corporation in the country,” Kane said. “Withhis tremendous amount of industry experience and knowledge, he wasa wonderful sounding board for new ideas or dealing withchallenges, as he could engage in discussions on almost any topicand make quick, sound decisions. He will certainly be missedby those of us who were fortunate to work with him over theyears.”

Over the years, Olson said he became close friends withPlauda.

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