METAIRIE -- Joseph Paul Treen, father of former Gov. Dave Treen and a prominent inventor, is dead following a long illness, the Ochsner Foundation Hospital announced. He was 86.
The elder Treen served in the Navy during World War I as bugler in John Philip Sousa's 2,300-piece marching band. He said in an interview last year that he blew signals to coordinate the unwieldy band's marches.
After leaving the Navy, Treen became an inventor who was credited with more than 60 inventions, including the kickstand. He said he was frustrated with the big motorcycle kickstands of the 1930s, so he developed a more convenient one and eventually adapted it to bicycles.
In 1935, he founded the Simplex Manufacturing Corp., which produced another invention, a lightweight motorcycle called the Servi-Cycle. They were produced through the mid-1950s. The company also made Go Karts.
Born in Purvis, Miss., Treen lived in Baton Rouge until 1935 and resided in Kenner at the time of his death.
In addition to the former governor, Treen is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Speer Treen; two other sons, Joseph Jr. and John S. Treen; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services were held Sunday. The family said a private burial will be held at Lake Lawn Park.
Published in The State Times (Baton Rouge), August 25, 1986
METAIRIE -- Joseph Paul Treen, father of former Gov. Dave Treen and a prominent inventor, is dead following a long illness, the Ochsner Foundation Hospital announced. He was 86.
The elder Treen served in the Navy during World War I as bugler in John Philip Sousa's 2,300-piece marching band. He said in an interview last year that he blew signals to coordinate the unwieldy band's marches.
After leaving the Navy, Treen became an inventor who was credited with more than 60 inventions, including the kickstand. He said he was frustrated with the big motorcycle kickstands of the 1930s, so he developed a more convenient one and eventually adapted it to bicycles.
In 1935, he founded the Simplex Manufacturing Corp., which produced another invention, a lightweight motorcycle called the Servi-Cycle. They were produced through the mid-1950s. The company also made Go Karts.
Born in Purvis, Miss., Treen lived in Baton Rouge until 1935 and resided in Kenner at the time of his death.
In addition to the former governor, Treen is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Speer Treen; two other sons, Joseph Jr. and John S. Treen; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services were held Sunday. The family said a private burial will be held at Lake Lawn Park.
Published in The State Times (Baton Rouge), August 25, 1986
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