We were saddened to hear of the passing of F. Rodney James, 90, Okotoks, Alta., on December 2, 2022. Among other titles, James could have been tagged as “The Father of Charolais.”
James was one of the first breeders to import Charolais up from the United States in 1958, when he was only 26. He later became an early secretary of the fledgling Canadian Charolais Association; founded the breed magazine, The Charolais Banner in 1966; and he was a principal in the cattle sales management company, Charcan Transcon Livestock Corp., which still exists today under different ownership. In its infancy, The Charolais Banner headquartered out of a renovated chicken coop on the James’s farm near Lacombe.
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James was instrumental in helping other breeds gain a foothold in Canada, especially Simmental. He also founded a general beef magazine entitled Beef Today.
James simply had cattle in his blood, especially purebred beef cattle — and he always enjoyed the breeders who raised them.
James later found time to set up a beef operation in Nova Scotia.
In 1985, James and his second wife Mernie bought the Ginger Tea Room and Gift Shop on the main street in Okotoks. In 1990, they built a whole new tea room and ran that until 2001. The landmark shop was always full of merchandise, conversation and friendly hospitality. His livestock sales management office was on the upper floor.
He and Mernie later sold the building and the land. The land became a retirement complex where James resided after selling his home.
James is survived by a sister Marjorie (Herb), and his children: Bob (Heather), Lorna (Cathy), and Ann (Robert), plus step-daughter Heather (Keith) and step-son Rob (Barb). Also left to mourn are 13 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandson.
– Submitted by Mark Kihn, Calgary, Alta.
