BATON ROUGE, La. – Friends and family said goodbye Monday to a politician known for his honesty. Former governors Buddy Roemer, Mike Foster, Kathleen Blanco and Gov. Bobby Jindal were all in attendance at a special Memorial Service at the state capital for former Governor and Congressman Dave Treen. "He inspired us to live up to his ideals and his standards that he held not only for himself, but for others," Jindal said. "Maybe he was idealistic, because he couldn't imagine anyone being else being less than honest, because he himself couldn't imagine being less than honest, in dealing with friend or foe alike." Hundreds filled the Capital Rotunda Monday morning. Treen's character and honesty were common topics. "He was a man of compassion," said Reverend Byron Clay. "He was impartial in his thinking, and his actions and decisions were driven by his principals and his conviction." "The character of Dave Treen that he displayed in his public life is the exactly the same characther that he lived by in private," added his son, Dr. Dave Treen. "Governor Treen has been described as a sincere, humble gentlemen, said Jason Neville, Dave Treen's Grandson. "I don't know for sure, but granddad definitely was." Eight of Treen's nine grandchildren read scripture passages at the service, and Neville spoke lovingly about his grandfather. "Over the past few days, some people have wondered if his instinctive and unrelenting kindness, sincerety, humility, selflessless and generosity were at times, a handicap in the political life of Governor Treen. Maybe, but they were Granddad Treen's greatest strengths." Treen was 81 years old. There's a second memorial service for Gov. Treen Tuesday on the northshore. Friends and family are invited to attend at 11:00 a.m. at St. Timothy United Methodist Church in Mandeville. "I'm going to miss my friend," said Reverend Clay. "He meant a whole lot to me. He's at peace now. Governor Treen, rest in peace."
