Co-op community fetes heroes as four join Hall of Fame - Brief Article

Rural Cooperatives, July-August, 2003 by Patrick Duffey

In was dubbed as "the entire co-op community coming together to honor our heroes," by Pete Creer, executive vice president of the Credit Union National Association. The occasion was the induction of four honorees including a congressman into the Cooperative Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C. Cited were Rep. Doug Bereuter of Nebraska, Rod Nilsestuen, J.K. Smith and Herb Wegner.

Bereuter has supported domestic and international cooperative activities over the years, including help in launching the Farmer-to-Farmer program in 1985 and sponsoring the Overseas Cooperative Development Act. Nilsestuen was honored for his stead-fast dedication to cooperatives in 24 years of leading the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives. Smith, a rural electric cooperative pioneer of 41 years, was the founder and first governor of the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Co. The late Herb Wegner was acknowledged as a credit union pioneer whose efforts help shape the finance industry today. The award was accepted by his son, Steve, who thanked the many people who worked alongside his father in the credit union community.