Leo H. Shapiro

Inducted: 1985

In 1922, attorney Leo Shapiro set out to secure passage of a credit union enabling act in California. Following a five-year lobbying struggle, legislation enabling the formation of credit unions in California was passed, resulting in an economic trend that continues to strongly influence the lives of California citizens. Shapiro organized more than 100 credit unions, and in 1933 he organized the California Credit Union League, and served as its first president and then chairman of its board. The League represents the interests of millions of Californians who are members of over thousands of credit unions. Shapiro also worked closely with other cooperative leaders such as Edward Filene and Roy Bergengren to make the credit union movement a national movement.