Homecoming Honoree: Bill Nikolauk
Distinguished Alumnus - Class of 1984 (B.B.A.)
Bill Nikolauk is one of the main reasons why two of Angelo State’s athletics facilities have such long names.
“I decided that’s not what I wanted to do,” Nikolauk said. “ASU was close to home, and I always liked the campus while I was growing up in Eldorado. I thought it was a good atmosphere for me.”
“I really enjoyed getting to know all the different students,” he added. “The education was fantastic, but the best part was getting to know the different people who I still have contact with and are my friends today.”
After graduating with his Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) in finance, Nikolauk went to work at what is now Texas Trust Credit Union (formerly General Telco FCU) as a collector and a loan officer. He then moved and spent the next couple of years opening and running branch offices in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In 1987, he returned to San Angelo to take the post of vice president of 1st Community Federal Credit Union (1CFCU) and was promoted to president/CEO in 1992.
During his tenure as president, 1CFCU became a visible force in the San Angelo and regional communities, sponsoring and supporting everything from the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo, Leadership San Angelo and the San Angelo Home Builders Association, to myriad community events, multiple nonprofit agencies and the ASU Ram Family.
“That was the whole idea because prior to my arrival, the credit union had nothing to do with ASU and did very little in the community,” Nikolauk said. “That was one of the main things that I pushed because ‘community’ is in our name. I thought we always should’ve been giving back like we are doing now. So we turned our marketing director, Vicki Loso, loose and it really started growing into what it is now.”
Angelo State and particularly ASU athletics were and continue to be major beneficiaries of Nikolauk’s passion for community involvement. Highlights include 1CFCU pledging funding for the artificial turf at what became LeGrand Stadium at 1st Community Credit Union Field in 2014 so the Rams could play home football games on campus. In 2015, 1CFCU donated the Foster Field baseball stadium to ASU, and the Rams are a national powerhouse playing home games at what is now Foster Field at 1st Community Credit Union Stadium. Beyond the facilities, 1CFCU has supported ASU students by annually providing thousands of ASU T-shirts for game days and other special events.
“As an ASU student, a lot of my friends were football players and athletes in the other sports,” Nikolauk said. “I think many of the students who come to ASU through athletics, it’s their escape from where they are coming from, and athletics gives them that step up. If we can help further that and get them here into a good situation like ASU offers, I’m 100% behind it.”
“ASU gives students every opportunity, and I think that’s fantastic.”
“Plus, I’ve always liked the coaches,” he added. “Coach Jeff Girsch is a good example. He is an exceptional human being, and anything we can do to help his program, we’re going to do it. As for the baseball stadium, giving it to ASU was what we had agreed upon previously, and it was the right thing to do.”
Other 1CFCU contributions to ASU that Nikolauk has spearheaded and shared in include funding for athletics scholarships, sponsoring countless campus events and endowing an academic scholarship in memory of his late brother, Mark, who was killed in a car accident while a student at ASU. Nikolauk has also represented the credit union in the ASU President’s Circle, Alumni Association and Ram Club, and he has served on each of their Board of Directors. His efforts there may not be as obvious as donating a stadium, but have been just as important.
“Watching the evolution of the campus has been fantastic,” Nikolauk said. “When we were able to get more of the prominent local business owners into the President’s Circle, that board and the campus really began flourishing. I think that’s when everything really kicked off.”
“I think the world of Angelo State,” he added. “They do what they’re supposed to do. They get the students prepared to go out and make or break it on their own. ASU gives students every opportunity, and I think that’s fantastic.”
Nikolauk’s influence also extends beyond the San Angelo region as he serves on the boards of a credit union software vendor, a Texas business lenders group and several national credit union organizations. His various efforts have helped generate prestigious awards for 1CFCU, including an Air Force Distinguished Bank and Credit Union Award and a National Community Credit Union of the Year Award from the Credit Union National Association (CUNA). Nikolauk has also been named CEO of the Year by the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions (NAFCU), as well as the Bob Diebitsch Leadership San Angelo Outstanding Alumni Civic Leader of the Year.
On a more personal note, Nikolauk is also proud to employ numerous other ASU alumni at the credit union, particularly former Rams linebacker Rush Seaver, who helped start and heads up 1CFCU Insurance Services.
For his outstanding career success and noteworthy contributions to ASU, the Alumni Association has named Nikolauk its 2024 Distinguished Alumnus.
“It is truly a really nice honor. I love Angelo State, and that makes it so much better.”
“I told them I thought somebody must’ve made a mistake,” he said. “I figured there are a lot of people out there more qualified than I am. But I appreciate the heck out of it. It is truly a really nice honor. I love Angelo State, and that makes it so much better.”
Nikolauk and his wife, Debbie, have two grown kids, Kaitlyn and Mark. His brother, Brett Nikolauk, vice president of Texas Trust Credit Union and another avid ASU supporter, is also an ASU graduate.