Willie James, the first African American president of TWU Local 100, passed away on Oct. 30 at the age of 73.

Willie James was a pioneer in many regards and will be remembered as such," said TWU Local 100 President Roger Toussaint. "The entire Local 100 membership mourns his passing."

Then Secretary-Treasurer of the Local, he was appointed President by the Executive Board in 1996. He was subsequently elected to that office and served in it through December 2000.

James was raised in Harlem by a working mother and served in the military and as a police officer before hiring on in 1967 as a Bus Operator at the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transportation Operating Authority.

Before becoming Secretary-Treasurer and President, he held several other Local offices. As Director of Training and Upgrade, he saw the first two women members advance from the title of Cleaner to Bus Maintainer.

He also served at various times on the Board of Directors of the Municipal Credit Union, where he was Acting Chairman and Chairman from 2007 to 2009, the Executive Board of the NAACP, and as Deacon at Mount Harmon Baptist Church. He was also a founding member of the Society of African American Transit Employees.

His wife Rosabelle passed away in 2005. James is survived by his children, Daisy Moyd and Charles James, his three grandsons, eleven great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren, his sister Janet Surrency Monroe, and the 38,000 members of his Union.