DALLAS – Credit union pioneer Jack A. Mitchell, 86, died on Sept. 25 of natural causes. Mitchell's distinguished credit union career included such highlights as being the first chairman of CUES from 1962-63; serving 30-plus years as CEO of Dallas Teachers CU (now Credit Union of Texas), retiring in 1977; chairing the Texas CU League from 1963-65; representing Texas as a national director for CUNA; serving a six-year term on the Texas Credit Union Commission; and chairing an insurance firm that at the time was run by the Texas CU League. "He ran Dallas Teachers CU for 31 years, during the time when it was the largest credit union in the state. He was a long-time legislative chairman for the league, and just very, very active on the state level," said Dick Ensweiler, president/CEO of the Texas CU League who met Mitchell while Mitchell was serving on the CUNA Board. Mitchell was a school teacher for over 16 years. He met H.B. Yates, then CEO of Dallas Teachers CU, who attracted him to the credit union industry. Mitchell authored an essay for CUES entitled "Credit Unions: A Working Definition, a Philosophical Perspective," in which he storied his joy of working with credit unions. "The fulfillment of my American dream is that I have been able to experience this unique movement firsthand. I have watched credit unions grow from a modest idea in the brains of great leaders, to the successful industry of today. I have watched the idea involve millions more people than I ever dreamed possible. And I have watched a movement grow and mature, until it has become well-established, meaningful and a dream fulfilled in countless ways."