Credit union industry lending speaker, expert and former CEO, Rex Johnson passed away Friday surrounded by his family at the age of 77. Rex was known as a charismatic leader who inspired Baxter Credit Union employees to live the “people helping people” purpose of the Vernon Hills-based credit union, according to a company statement.
Rex Johnson was a leading expert within the credit union and consumer lending industries. He had authored four best-selling books, including More Passion for Lending, as well as a series of instructional videos. In 1996, Rex created the first hands-on, interactive lending school for credit union professionals – The University of Lending.
Rex was the driving force behind LSCI’s commitment to helping credit unions become leaders in consumer lending. He has shared his expertise with over 50,000 credit union employees and volunteers worldwide.
Rex was also the former CEO and first employee of Baxter Credit Union in Deerfield, IL. During his 12-year leadership, the credit union grew to $300 million in assets. In addition to working with a number of credit union leagues, he has also served as an instructor for CUNA’s Advanced Lending School. Rex received a master’s degree from Northwestern University. He was also the Illinois Credit Union Executive of the year in 1986 and elected into the Illinois Credit Union Hall of Fame in April 2000 and into CUES Hall of Fame in November 2000.
“I have always been so proud to say I worked for Rex Johnson,” said Mike Valentine, BCU president and CEO. “Following his lead as BCU’s CEO is something I’m extremely humbled and honored to have been given the opportunity to do. No one taught me more about credit unions than Rex, a sentiment shared by many of us in the industry. That’s quite a legacy.”
To honor Rex’s memory, BCU will award a $5,000 Leader of Tomorrow Scholarship in his name. The credit union’s annual scholarship program reopens April 26. BCU also made a donation to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.
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