Dick Williams became the first chief executive officer of the former Norfolk & Western credit union in 1972.

Back then, the employee financial institution had one office, six workers and 1,500 customers — barely enough to need a full-time chief executive.

But the credit union’s board brought in Williams, who sold computer services at the time, including to the credit union, and he went to work in the former Norfolk & Western passenger station in downtown Roanoke. The credit union was downstairs where the galleries of the O. Winston Link Museum are today.

A lot has changed in 36 years as Williams, who is still CEO, prepares to power down for retirement Thursday.

Norfolk & Western merged with Southern Railway and the headquarters left town. Meanwhile, the institution Williams ran is now called Member One Federal Credit Union. Fifteen branches serve 52,500 members.

The not-for-profit institution — whose tax-exempt mission is lending money and teaching people to save money — earned $4 million during 2007 and has $355 million in assets.

Williams spent a few moments this week reviewing the milestones of the credit union and those of his career, which included various mergers and other changes that have since enabled most anyone who works, lives, worships or attends school in a large portion of the Roanoke and New River valleys to join Member One.

New services are another part of the story.

“We began checking accounts in 1978. We were the first credit union in Virginia to offer checking accounts and 37th in the country to offer checking accounts,” Williams said. “I think from that point on, credit unions started to grow quite a bit.”

Williams said he is most pleased by the growth and the adoption of technological innovations, such as those that enabled members to bank online earlier this decade.

In a bid to expand financial literacy, the credit union opened student-run branches at William Fleming, Franklin County and Christiansburg high schools. “I’m very passionate about helping people with their financial needs,” and that includes young people, the departing chief said.

Change continues. The institution recently began offering commercial loans, having made 20 so far.

Williams said Member One helped a tow truck company buy new trucks and is financing construction of a YMCA at Smith Mountain Lake, for example — ambitious stuff for an institution once so small.