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In Memory of Dorothy J. "Dot" Hall |
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| 22 March 2010 | |
Many long-time Virginia Credit Union members and employees fondly remember Dorothy J. "Dot" Hall. The retired president of Virginia Credit Union, who began work as a bookkeeper and retired as president after 42 years, died March 16 at her home in Hanover. She was 79.
 "For many people, Dot Hall was the credit union," said Jane Watkins, president and CEO of Virginia Credit Union, who succeeded her. "During her 42 years with the credit union, Dot demonstrated genuine compassion for members in need, with every interaction she had. She was always determined to find a way to help a member and inspired all of us to reach for those solutions," said Jane. "Our employees share my personal commitment to helping our members and letting them know we care about them," Dot said when she retired in 1999. "If I am to leave behind any legacy, I hope it's that I have made some of our members more financially comfortable. Virginia Credit Union has helped to educate so many children, and helped members reach important goals. It's been so rewarding." When Dot began working for the credit union, it had 2,500 members, less than $1 million in assets, and operated out of space in the state's controller's office. When she retired in 1999, the credit union had grown to 123,000 members, more than $600 million in assets and had a central operations center and a network of branch locations. Upon her retirement in 1999, E. J. Face, Jr., Commissioner of the State Corporation Commission Bureau of Financial Institutions said, "I don't think anyone would argue that the single most important ingredient in the growth of the credit union has been Mrs. Hall. Her efforts in improving the range and quality of services provided to the credit union's members, together with the effectiveness of the 'credit union message' she carried to the public, has been an inspiration to her Board, the staff of the credit union, and perhaps most important of all, to the membership of the credit union." During her time as president, the Board of Directors of Virginia Credit Union established a college scholarship program in her honor which has now provided more than $500,000 to credit union members to help with the cost of college. The Board also named the credit union's headquarters building in her honor. Dot became treasurer of the board and general manager of the credit union in 1972. Her title was changed to president in 1986. Dot was one of the few credit union presidents who also served on the board as a member. Throughout her four decades of service, Dot was always learning and looking for ways to grow and improve service to credit union members. Dot was active in the community and served on the boards of various organizations including the American Cancer Society, the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Virginia and the Retail Merchant's Association. She formed a community service committee of credit union employees and frequently joined them in their volunteer efforts. She regularly visited branches and departments, taking time to speak to as many employees as possible and to thank them for their good work. Her work with credit union organizations included leadership positions at the local, state and national levels. She served as president of the Richmond Chapter of the Virginia Credit Union League, as a League director, and as a national director from Virginia. Virginia Credit Union continues to grow and embody the philosophy of service that Dot Hall instilled. As a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned by its members, Virginia Credit Union offers members a wide variety of affordable banking services and financial education resources. Today, with more than 190,000 members and assets of $1.9 billion, it is among the 60 largest credit unions in the United States based on asset size.
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