[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 177 (Thursday, December 8, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1658]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN RECOGNITION OF HENRY WIRZ

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DORIS O. MATSUI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 8, 2016

  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Henry Wirz as he 
retires after thirty-six years of service to SAFE Credit Union. As his 
family, friends and colleagues gather to celebrate his long list of 
accomplishments, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring this great 
individual who has served and contributed so much to the Sacramento 
Region.
  Graduating from the MBA program at UC Berkeley, Mr. Wirz started his 
career at a CPA firm before joining SAFE Credit Union, a not-for-
profit, community-chartered credit union with membership open to 
businesses and individuals. Upon joining SAFE, he quickly moved up the 
ranks and after five years took over the reigns as CEO, staying in that 
role for the last thirty-one years. Under his leadership, SAFE Credit 
Union has grown and flourished. Embracing new ideas and technologies, 
SAFE Credit Union is now the second largest credit union in the 
Sacramento Region. It started with four branches, but has since grown 
to twenty-one service centers across twelve Northern California 
counties. SAFE's workforce has grown from 130 employees to close to 
600. Over his entire career, Mr. Wirz has worked tirelessly for the 
more than 190,000 members of SAFE, and his efforts are a major reason 
why the credit union is such a pillar in our region.
  In addition to his work at SAFE Credit Union, Mr. Wirz is involved in 
many philanthropic efforts to benefit our community. He is a champion 
to end homelessness, a supporter of educational programs, and an 
innovator of the first degree. He has inspired SAFE Credit Union 
members and employees to volunteer endless time to our community. Mr. 
Wirz is a Past Chairman of KVIE Channel 6; a Trustee of the University 
of California, Davis Foundation; a Trustee of the RCA Fund of the 
Sacramento Regional Foundation; and Chairman of the Board of Sacramento 
Community Foundation. He has served on the Twin Rivers Unified School 
District Advisor Board, the NextEd Board, and the City Year Sacramento 
Board. Although he will be greatly missed from the day-to-day 
operations at SAFE Credit Union, Mr. Wirz will remain involved in our 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, as Mr. Wirz and his family, friends and colleagues 
gather to celebrate his retirement, I am pleased to honor and recognize 
him for his hard work and dedication to making Sacramento a better 
place for all to live. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing him 
the best in retirement and thanking him for his contributions to the 
Sacramento Region.

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