Historic Walker County

COMMUNITY
SERVICE
CREDIT UNION
❖
Above: Newly remodeled exterior of
the main office on FM 2821.
Below: Sam South Location; CSCU
added a branch on the south side of
Huntsville, Texas in 2008.
Imagine walking past a prison guard to
secure a loan or conduct other financial business.
That is exactly what employees of the
Texas Prison System did when the Texas Prison
Employees Credit Union was established nearly
sixty years ago. The fledgling credit union was
located inside the Huntsville (Walls) Unit.
In 1953, W. H. Gaston, director of the Texas
Prison System, contacted O. B. Ellis, general
manager of the System, expressing concern over
the problem of assignments of salary
warrants from one employee to another.
In his letter, Gaston suggested the
formation of a credit union to better
assist employees with their financial
needs. He also suggested a board of
directors to oversee the savings and loan
transactions against money earned as
pay; and, further stated that investors
were ready to start such an institution.
Ellis granted approval, but a second
approval was required from the Texas
Prison Board because the venture would
involve Texas Prison System employees
as volunteers. Permission was granted
upon receipt of a letter that outlined the
credit union’s organization and various
procedures about how system employees,
as volunteers, would conduct credit
union transactions and business.
The organization was chartered April
16, 1954 by the Department of Banking.
At that time, there were only fifty-five
members, and a mere $10,115 in shares.
Gaston was named manager.
6 6 ✦ H I S T O R I C W A L K E R C O U N T Y