• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

Sponsored: Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame inducts two retired CEOs from local credit unions

Posted at 10:53 am June 10, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Tom Hilton and Wayne Hope

Tom Hilton, left, retired CEO of Y-12 FCU, and Wayne Hope, retired CEO of Enrichment Federal Credit Union, were inducted into the TN Credit Union Hall of Fame. (Submitted photo)

 

Created jointly by Volunteer Corporate Credit Union and the Tennessee Credit Union League, the Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame recognizes the valuable leadership and contributions of credit union people in the state of Tennessee. Beginning in 2010, the Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame has recognized the commitment, leadership, and service deserving individuals have made to the credit union movement.

The judges considered the following criteria when making their selection:

  • Years of service to the credit union system;
  • Positions of leadership on the state, local, or national level;
  • Demonstrated commitment to the credit union philosophy and services; and
  • Credit union system educational accomplishments and support.

The two 2016 inductees into the Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame both reside in the East Tennessee region. This year’s awards were given to Tom Hilton, retired chief executive officer of Y-12 Federal Credit Union, and M. Wayne Hope, retired CEO of Enrichment Federal Credit Union. Both recipients have lived their lives and modeled to others the credit union difference of “People Helping People.”

Tom Hilton served Y-12 FCU for 21 years, growing the institution from $135 million in assets to $650 million in assets at the time of his retirement. Hilton was involved locally with Emory Valley Center, Girls Inc., Girls and Boys Clubs, and March of Dimes. He served as the United Way of Anderson County campaign chair in 2012 as well as board chair in 2015. He is a member of the Oak Ridge Rotary Club, where he was a past president and served as a board member, and past chair of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, he was past president of the Methodist Medical Center Foundation and served on the KIF Board to raise money to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.

In retirement, Hilton remains active in community affairs, continuing his service with the United Way of Anderson County Board of Directors and the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge.

Hilton served on the Tennessee Credit Union League Board for six years and held the position of chairman from 2002-2003. He has been as asset to the credit union movement and been visible in both Washington, D.C., and Nashville to promote the mission and philosophy of credit unions.

M. Wayne Hope served the credit union movement with strength and purpose and a true servant’s heart for 39 years. Hope grew Enrichment Federal Credit Union from $180 million in assets to $425 million in assets in the 22 years he served as the CEO. During that time, the credit union not only grew in assets, services provided, and customer service ratings, but he also successfully changed the credit union name from K-25 FCU to Enrichment FCU.

Hope served on the Volunteer Corporate Credit Union Board for 13 years and was board chair from 2000 until 2001 and again from 2002 until 2004. He served on the Tennessee Credit Union League Board of Directors and served one term as board chair.

Hope helped organize the Easy Street ATM Network, a regional surcharge-free ATM network with local credit unions, so members could use ATMs of other credit unions in the area with no fees. This network was a tremendous help to smaller credit unions in the area with little or no ATMs.

Hope is extremely involved in the Oak Ridge Rotary Club, where he served as Community Fund treasurer; the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, where he served as treasurer for three years as well as a board member and past chairman of the Knoxville Better Business Bureau.

The 2016 inductees into the Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame have truly lived their lives in service to their community, their credit unions, and the members they served. Their years of service in the credit union industry have been a positive impact on the history of credit unions in the East Tennessee Region and beyond. They were an asset to their credit unions and to the credit union industry.

Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Filed Under: Business, Front Page News, Oak Ridge, Top Stories Tagged With: Easy Street ATM Network, Enrichment FCU, Enrichment Federal Credit Union, K-25 FCU, Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, Oak Ridge Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, Tennessee Credit Union Hall of Fame, Tennessee Credit Union League, Tom Hilton, United Way of Anderson County, Volunteer Corporate Credit Union, Wayne Hope, Y-12 FCU, Y-12 Federal Credit Union

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More Business News

Kairos Power begins construction on demonstration reactor​

Kairos Power has started construction on a test nuclear reactor in west Oak Ridge. The Hermes Low-Power Demonstration Reactor is the first of its type to be approved for construction by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory … [Read More...]

Learn about Oak Ridge history during World War II

You can learn more about the history of Oak Ridge during World War II during a free national park walk through Jackson Square on Thursday, July 18. The walk is offered by the Manhattan Project National Historical … [Read More...]

Legal Aid Society presentation at Lunch with League

Two representatives of Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlands will be featured at Lunch with the League in Oak Ridge on Tuesday. The two representatives are Mary Michelle Gillum and Paula Trujillo. … [Read More...]

UT Arboretum Society has spring plant sale in April

The University of Tennessee Arboretum Society will have its annual plant sale in Oak Ridge in April. It's the 57th Spring Plant Sale, and it's scheduled for April 12 and 13 at the UT Arboretum at 901 South Illinois … [Read More...]

Three students, schools selected for ORNL FCU art, mural program

Three students and schools have had their art work selected for the ORNL Federal Credit Union's Community Art and Mural Program. Introduced in 2017, the Community Art and Mural Program was created to support … [Read More...]

More Business

Recent Posts

  • Flatwater Tales Storytelling Festival Announces 2025 Storytellers
  • Laser-Engraved Bricks Will Line Walkway of New Chamber Headquarters
  • Democratic Women’s Club to Discuss Climate Change, Energy and Policy
  • Estate Jewelry Show at Karen’s Jewelers Features Celebrity Jewelry
  • Keri Cagle named new ORAU senior vice president and ORISE director
  • ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal+ORAU Annual Giving Campaign exceeds $100,000 goal More than $1 million raised in past 10 years benefits United Way and Community Shares Oak Ridge, Tenn. —ORAU exceeded its goal of raising $100,000 in donations as part of its internal annual giving campaign that benefits the United Way and Community Shares nonprofit organizations. ORAU has raised more than $1 million over the past 10 years through this campaign. A total of $126,839 was pledged during the 2024 ORAU Annual Giving Campaign. Employees donate via payroll deduction and could earmark their donation for United Way, Community Shares or both. “ORAU has remained a strong pillar in the community for more than 75 years, and we encourage our employees to consider participating in our annual giving campaign each year to help our less fortunate neighbors in need,” said ORAU President and CEO Andy Page. “Each one of our employees has the power to positively impact the lives of those who need help in the communities where we do business across the country and demonstrate the ORAU way – taking care of each other.” ORAU, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, provides science, health and workforce solutions that address national priorities and serve the public interest. Through our specialized teams of experts and access to a consortium of more than 150 major Ph.D.-granting institutions, ORAU works with federal, state, local and commercial customers to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions and help advance their missions. ORAU manages the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Learn more about ORAU at www.orau.org. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OakRidgeAssociatedUniversities Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/orau Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orau ###
  • Children’s Museum Gala Celebrates the Rainforest
  • Jim Sears joins ORAU as senior vice president
  • Oak Ridge Housing Authority Receives Funding Assistance of up to $51.8 Million For Renovating Public Housing and Building New Workforce Housing
  • Two fires reported early Friday

Search Oak Ridge Today

Copyright © 2025 Oak Ridge Today