Navy federal credit union guam

Farley Award Winner Aims For Perfect Day

'There's no limit to what can be accomplished if you don't care who gets the credit.'

Who: Tom Griffiths

What: Iowa CU League President

Where: Des Moines

First job: I learned a lot working as a laborer on a masonry crew-most of which didn't please my mother. But I learned: 1) People from different backgrounds and disciplines will respect you if you work shoulder-to-shoulder with them; and 2) maybe I really should give college a try.

What attracted me to the CU movement: I was in the Navy in Guam in 1969 and needed $300 to get married and buy a [very] used car. A senior petty officer took me to NAVMAR Federal Credit Union, where I received a loan and, through payroll deduction, put a few dollars into savings each payday. Frankly, I forgot about those deductions. When I changed duty stations, NAVMAR Federal gave me a $1,500 check. After that, I was hooked.

Proudest professional accomplishments: I served on the steering committee for the Campaign for Consumer Choice and witnessed President Clinton's signing of H.R. 1151 in the Oval Office. I have fond memories of my time as chairman of the American Association of Credit Union Leagues (AACUL), formerly the Association of Credit Union League Executives. I've been honored to receive CUNA Mutual Group's Roy F. Bergengren Award, and AACUL's Eagle Award and Eugene H. Farley League Leadership Award. During much of the past 25 years, Iowa credit unions maintained a 100% league affiliation rate.

How my leadership style has changed: I've always supported team effort. The difference today is I'm more patient and don't feel the need to grab the reins as often or as quickly. And I'm old enough to know how to apologize and mean it.

Professional motto: "There's no limit to what can be accomplished if you don't care who gets the credit."

The perfect day: A day of bird hunting, fishing, or golf [or a combination] pursued to exhaustion, followed by a martini and a steak with my wife and old credit union friends. As long as it's supposed to be perfect, let's have drinks and dinner overlooking the surf in Hawaii.

Where I'll be in 10 years: I hope I'm doing my best to capture that "perfect day."

For the complete transcript of Spotlight's interview with Tom Griffiths, go to