A Table's Tale

How a CEO saved the table used for the Dayton Peace Accords

A table on which the historic Dayton Peace Accords were signed on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in November 1995 has found a temporary home in the Benjamin and Marian Schuster Center in downtown Dayton for the NATO Parliamentary Assembly this weekend. 

The large table's winding, three-decade journey began at NCR's former Dayton headquarters before embarking on stops at Mendelson's Liquidation Outlet and Universal 1 Credit Union. The table will return to the credit union's Beavercreek board room.

As explained by Chris Kershner, president and chief executive of the Dayton Area Chambe of Commerce, the 16-foot oak table was once owned by Dayton technological powerhouse NCR, which loaned the table to Wright-Patterson for the peace accord negotiations which ended a war between a trio of warring nations in the former Yugoslavia.

"This is such a great story, "Kershner said Wednesday in an interview. "I love it." this table.

NCR left, but the credit union stayed. A former CEO of Universal 1 was shopping at Mendelson's one weekend when she spotted the table.

The CEO, Loren A. Rush, immediately knew what the table was and understood its significance, Kershner said. 

Universal's board of directors named Jessica Jones the credit union's CEO in October 2021, replacing Rush on her retirement. 

Fast forward to 2024: Jones called Kershner with unexpected news. 

"Chris, we've got the table from the original Dayton Peace Accords," Kershner recalled. "I said, "You've got to be kidding me." She wasn't.

The chamber hired Thomas Cabinet, of West Carrollton, to disassemble the big table, moving it to the Schuster Center so NATO delegates can appreciate it and the peace accord instruments which made the table special. 

"Today, this iconic table remains at the heart of Universal 1 Credit Union, where it continues to serve a lasting symbol of the organization's roots, resilience, and continued dedication to the community," a credit union flyer on the table says, "We are proud to use this as a board table at our Beavercreek location. And we love to share this great story," Jones said.

NCR Employees Credit Union was formed in 1937.

Source: By Thomas Gnau – Staff Writer, "A Table's Tale  How a CEO saved the table used for the Dayton Peace Accords", May 22, 2025, Dayton Daily News: https://www.daytondailynews.com/