HR1175 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1175 LRB094 20223 HSS 58116 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Eldon Arnold will retire from his position as President and CEO of Citizens Equity First Credit Union (CEFCU) on May 1, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Arnold's career as President/CEO of CEFCU, headquartered in Peoria, began in May of 1998; prior to that, he had served as an employee and as a Director of the Credit Union; and

WHEREAS, Today, CEFCU is one of the largest credit unions in the nation and the largest locally-owned financial institution in Central Illinois with assets of nearly $3 billion, more than 700 employees, 226,000 members, and 19 Member Centers; and

WHEREAS, In the eight years under his leadership, CEFCU has realized significant changes; its net worth more than doubled; its assets and loans increased by over $1 billion; membership increased by 23,500 net new members; New Member Centers were opened in Bloomington, Normal, and Morton, and two more will open in Springfield and northwest Peoria in 2006; and there were many more improvement during his tenure; and

WHEREAS, Active in the Peoria community, Mr. Arnold has served on the Boards of the Peoria Civic Federation, OSF Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing, the Greater Peoria Family YMCA, the Community Foundation of Central Illinois, the Peoria Area Economic Development Council, and the Peoria Historical Society; additionally, he chaired the American Heart Association Heartwalk and served as a member of the Girl Scouts Capital Campaign Cabinet; and

WHEREAS, He served as a director for MEMBERS Development Corporation, CUNA Mutual, CEFCU, and CEFCU Financial Services, Inc.; his professional affiliations included membership on the Research Council for the Filene Research Institute (University of Wisconsin), the Credit Union National Association's (CUNA) Payment Systems Subcommittee, the National Association of Federal Credit Union's Legislative Committee, the Filene Research Institute Leadership Circle, and the Central States Credit Union Roundtable; in his retirement, Mr. Arnold plans to remain on the CEFCU Board of Directors; and

WHEREAS, His educational background includes study at Iowa State University, Illinois Central College, Stanford University, and the University of Colorado; he was born in Monmouth and lives with his wife, Bev, in Peoria; they have two sons and six grandchildren; he enjoys golf, and he and Bev plan to travel; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Eldon Arnold on the occasion of his retirement, and we wish him well in the future; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mr. Arnold as an expression of our esteem.