Retiring Wisconsin Member Receives Two Prestigious Honors

March 25, 2026

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After spending more than 30 years as an engineer for the Canadian Pacific and serving SMART-TD brothers and sisters in Wisconsin, Brother Steve James (Local 590, Portage, Wis.) officially retired on December 1, 2025.

As both the Safety & Legislative Representative for Local 590 and the secretary for the Wisconsin Legislative Board led by State Director Andy Hauck, Brother James played a critical role in advancing the interests of railroaders in his home state for years.

A generational railroader who is held in high regard by the membership in Wisconsin, he received two special gifts of recognition upon his retirement.

Local 590 presented Brother James with a SMART-TD watch, and the Wisconsin State Legislative Board gave him an emblem from the storied Milwaukee Road Hiawatha Service.

Brother Steve James (third from left) is presented with the Milwaukee Road Hiawatha Service emblem to mark his retirement.

Reflecting on Brother James’s years of service, Wisconsin SLD Andy Hauk said that “Steve is a magnificent example of an officer that is all about service to his members…[and] will be sorely missed by all of us!”

In his retirement message, Brother James shared a similar fondness for those who he served for many years, saying “It has been quite an honor…to serve with all of you in these positions. Little did I know what I was getting into when, many years ago, I raised my hand at my local meeting and threw my hat in the ring for Alternate Legislative Representative for 590!”

Best wishes on your well-deserved retirement, Brother James, and thank you for your many decades of dedication to our union!