[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 72 (Monday, June 12, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E974]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




A TRIBUTE TO LARRY SHARP, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY BUSINESS LEADER OF THE 
                                  YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 12, 2000

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to praise 
the efforts of Larry Sharp, the president of Arrowhead Credit Union, 
who has been named Business Leader of the Year by the San Bernardino 
County Sun for the success he has brought the credit union, and his 
commitment to community involvement for himself and his business.
  Larry Sharp took over financial management of the San Bernardino 
County Central Credit Union in 1982, vowing to turn around within 24 to 
30 months the troubled financial institution that served local 
government employees. Under his management, the credit union turned a 
profit within 18 months.
  During Larry Sharp's 18-year tenure, what is now known as Arrowhead 
Credit Union has grown from 24,000 members with assets of $42 million 
to nearly 100,000 members and assets of $404 million.
  But the credit union is much more than a financial success under 
Larry Sharp. It has become a community asset.
  Under his leadership, Arrowhead Credit Union donated funds to create 
a classroom at California State University, San Bernardino, that helps 
students learn realtime securities trading just as if they were working 
for a broker.
  The credit union has also given free space to create the Community 
Advancement Resource Center, which helps small businesses and start-
ups. The credit union has set aside $250,000 for micro-loans for 
businesses using the center, which is a cooperative venture between the 
university's Center for Entrepreneurship, the Inland Empire Small 
Business Development Center and the U.S. Small Business Administration.
  Arrowhead plans to open a branch this year on San Bernardino's West 
Side, whose primarily African-American and Hispanic residents have not 
been served by a local financial institution since 1984. And the credit 
union has pledged $20,000 a year to the CORE 21 program of the Inland 
Empire Economic Partnership to foster high-tech jobs in the area.
  Mr. Speaker, it is clear that under Larry Sharp's leadership, 
Arrowhead Credit Union has shown the kind of leadership that helps a 
community prosper and grow along with its businesses. I ask you and my 
colleagues to join me in congratulating him on the well-deserved 
recognition as Business Leader of the Year.

                          ____________________