James Alexander Houston

October 22, 1946 - July 5, 2024

James Alexander Houston, a beloved member of the Memphis community, passed away on July 5, 2024, at the age of 77. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, on October 22, 1946, James was a multifaceted individual who lived a colorful and adventurous life.

James had an artistic nature and found joy in expressing his creativity. Whether it was sketching beautifully detailed portraits or writing eloquent letters to his loved ones, he had a knack for capturing the essence of things. He was also a lifelong learner and enjoyed engaging in intellectual debates on various topics, always armed with well-researched facts and a logical mind.

As a professional artist, professor, army veteran, and registered nurse, James made significant contributions to different fields throughout his life. However, his proudest accomplishment was serving in the Army for four years, a time that shaped his character and instilled in him a sense of duty and honor.

Beyond his professional achievements, James was a dedicated teacher and mentor. He found great joy in both learning and sharing knowledge, inspiring his peers and grandchildren to pursue education with passion. James believed that knowledge was power and constantly sought to expand his understanding of the world.

As a lover of his hometown, Memphis, Tennessee held a special place in James's heart. He cherished the city's vibrant culture and unique atmosphere, making it his favorite place in the world.

In his free time, James enjoyed watching the news, as he believed that knowledge was a powerful tool that could help shape the world. He was always well-informed about political and environmental issues and enjoyed engaging in conversations about them.

James will be deeply missed by his daughter, Tara Elliott, as well as his grandchildren, Timothy Tanner, Shazrahad Elliott, Charon Shaw, Deja Carter, and Demia Carter. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Christopher Clayton and Nori Tanner. James also leaves behind his siblings, Claudette Houston and Isabella Houston, who will forever cherish their memories of him.

James Alexander Houston will be remembered for his artistic talents, his thirst for knowledge, his witty sense of humor, and his dedication to teaching and mentoring others. He impacted the lives of many, inspiring them to pursue their dreams and live a life of simplicity and wisdom. His leadership roles as a union steward for the IRS and his service in the Army further exemplified his commitment to his community.

James believed in the power of love, knowledge, and kindness. His legacy will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of all those who had the privilege of knowing him.

The following, has been written by James's dear friend and colleague Sidney.

"The Man Under the White Bucket Hat”

James Houston returned from working as an illustrator in Hawaii to visit his mom and dad. When he saw his dad, who had poor eyesight, struggling to administer insulin shots to his mom, he knew he needed to stay and help take care of them. So, he quit his job as an illustrator and stayed in Memphis. In 1985, he started working at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a tax examiner, where he excelled and received numerous performance awards. He quickly joined the union and, because of his savvy knowledge of contracts, moved up the ranks to become the night shift Chief Steward of Chapter 098 of the National Treasury Employees Union.

James wore a white bucket hat every single day during his employment at the IRS. If you didn’t know his name, people would refer to him as “the guy with the white hat.” That white hat became a symbol of justice for the employees he represented through the grievance process. James purchased these hats from Lansky’s, and it seems he bought a bunch of them since they were all white and ALWAYS clean. He was well-respected by management and worked closely with them to ensure that employment contracts were properly followed.

 When the IRS introduced a new performance program called TEPS, James filed over 300 grievances. This was because management did not understand how the program worked and began making up their own rules, which harmed employees and denied them their performance awards. When the national NTEU office learned about these grievances, they sent top executives to Memphis to meet with James and me at the Rendezvous restaurant in downtown Memphis. The purpose was to discuss how we filed so many grievances so they could share that information with other chapters and ensure that management applied the new performance system according to the contract.

James was a proud man who may have appeared arrogant to some, but his confidence came from his knowledge and expertise. He won most of his grievances, often on technicalities. James was adept at finding ways to keep employees working so they wouldn’t lose their jobs. In addition to his skills as a tax examiner, James was a talented artist. I once saw him draw a picture of himself wearing the white hat, so I asked him how he was able to draw it without referencing a picture of himself. He calmly replied, “I know what I look like.” The picture was perfect.

During union training, we saw a more relaxed side of James and discovered that he had a sense of humor. While at a restaurant in Atlanta, I ordered a “conch” salad, which led everyone at the table to inquire about what I had ordered. James made a witty comment, saying he didn’t know what it was, but it sounded like I ordered “some cun#”, which made everyone burst into laughter. There was also a time in Denver when James decided not to wear his hat during union training sessions, and to our amazement, nobody recognized him.

In our unit, James was given many nicknames because he exuded suave and debonair qualities. Debra Ollie, in particular, called him “body” and “Jameo.” He was a smooth operator and a born leader. One night, while some stewards were in the union office, James came in and told everyone, “y’all come with me.” He had a stern look on his face, so no one questioned him. We followed him to a manager’s unit, where he confronted her, pointed his finger, and demanded that she hold the meeting she was avoiding. He then turned around and left, and we silently followed him back to the union office. Soon after that incident, management attempted to get rid of both of us. James made me his representative, and together, we won the case without me having to say a single word. Although James won his case, he chose not to return to the IRS. Instead, he retired after taking his pension and 401K monies and went on to work for FedEx.

Afterward, I never saw James again, but I would occasionally call him to wish him a happy birthday and discuss strategies for winning difficult cases or which agencies to contact for support. He referred me to the National Labor Relations Board in Chicago, the Department of Labor, and the EEO, which greatly helped me in filing and winning many cases against management.

In conclusion, the man under the white bucket hat, although very private, deeply cared about people and always found unconventional ways to save someone’s job. Despite the IRS having a ratio of 20 women to every man, James was never tempted, as he believed it was inappropriate to mix work with relationships. Many women were attracted to the man under the white hat due to his mild-mannered way of speaking and the Yardley musk he wore. I even tried some of that musk, too! (ha ha). The man under the white bucket hat was feared, revered, and respected by all. He was like a big brother to me, who I admired and followed in his footsteps when I became the Chief Steward of Chapter 098. 

Rest in peace, dear friend. Your teachings will never be forgotten."

A memorial service to celebrate the life of James Alexander Houston will be held at a later date.