Richard “Doc” Heins, former CUNA Mutual Insurance Grouppresident/CEO, has died at the age of 85.

Heins – a 2010 recipient of the Herb Wegner Memorial Award in 2010 for his service to thecredit union industry – retired from CUNA Mutual in 1995 afterhaving joined the company as a consultant in 1956.

He was a Platteville, Wis., native who earned his bachelor's andmaster's degrees, along with a PhD and law degree from theUniversity of Wisconsin. He taught at UCLA for four years beforetaking a faculty position at his alma mater and forging his careerin the credit union industry.

Heins is survived by his wife, Ruth, along with four daughtersand 10 grandchildren. His complete obituary is online

Plaudits poured in after news of his death, according to CUNANews Now.

“Doc was one of those rare individuals that possessed incrediblecreativity combined with a passion to collaborate,” said Jeff Post,CUNA Mutual president/CEO.

“Doc Heins was an icon for the credit union movement and for theCUNA/league system. In a very real way, he charted the course forthe partnership between CUNA and CUNA Mutual that serves all creditunions so well to this day,” said CUNA President/CEO BillCheney.

Innovations attributed to Heins by Susan Newton, executivedirector of the American Association of Credit Union Leagues,included creating a program allowing credit unions to write loansfor as little as 5% down; expanding the delivery of direct-responseproducts including life insurance, pioneering applying age andhealth factors to insurance risk ratings, support of an independentfederal regulator and insurer for credit unions; supportingcreation of the Filene Research Institute (and later the i3 group);and encouragement for rebuilding credit unions in Poland after thefall of communism there.

“Doc was ceaseless in his devotion to credit unions andcooperatives worldwide; his legacy is stronger credit unions herein America, and a surging cooperative movement around the globe,”Newton said.

CO-OP Financial Services President/CEO Stan Hollen said Heinswas an inspiration to many over the years and pointed to hiscreation of the CEO Dialogue Group and Members DevelopmentCouncil.

“I still have the rocking chair he had delivered to my home thateach council member received,” Hollen told News Now.

“Doc was most comfortable in front of a group with an easel andmarker to sketch out his ideas. His leadership in combiningwith Century Companies in Iowa set the stage for the future of CUNAMutual. He will be missed but not forgotten,” Hollen said.

Heins' funeral will be held on Thursday at 11 a.m. CDT in OurRedeemer Lutheran Church at 1701 McKenna Blvd. in Madison, Wis.