Victor Hugo Treat

Victor Hugo Treat, Sr., 93, died after a brief illness on August 8, 2023. Victor was born in 1930 near Matagorda, TX to Dorothy Lewin-Lee Treat and William Jay Treat. He was a proud University of Houston Cougar, even running track for the university as a letterman. While he briefly considered becoming an ordained Episcopal priest, he followed his love of history and pursued his doctorate of history at the University of Texas. Upon graduation he became a professor at Texas A&M University where he taught History of the Old South, Reconstruction and Texas History. He was named a distinguished professor at the end of his tenure and served as a faculty advisor until he retired in 1998. He was famous for his chili review suppers and his attention to student attendance in his classes.  

At age 17, Victor met the lovely JoAnn Harbolt and together they enjoyed living and making friends with their colleagues in Austin and later in College Station which they called home for most of their 70 years of marriage. Victor was active in St. Thomas Episcopal Church and later Epiphany in Calvert, serving as lay reader and acolyte. He also enjoyed gardening as a member of the Men’s Garden Club and an active participant in the Coushatta Camelia Society. He was an apiarist and enjoyed sampling honey from all over. His favorite holiday was Christmas which to him started with carols as he cleaned up after the Thanksgiving feast.He and JoAnn travelled widely making memories with their friends as they cruised and fished near Alaska, the rivers in France, and numerous trips through the American Southwest. 

He supported his sons in their athletic pursuits both as an avid viewer and a coach for flag football and basketball. He also served as usher and manager of the Board of Regents box at Kyle Field. 

Victor is proceeded in death by his parents and older brother, William Jay Treat. His loss is felt by his wife, JoAnn Treat; son, William Jay Treat (Mary) and his two grand-daughters Stephanie Treat of College Station and Diana Treat of Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is also mourned by his younger son, Victor Hugo “Huey” Treat, Jr (Ann) and two grandsons Julian Treat of Huntsville, Alabama, and Nicholas Jackson Treat of Houston. He also leaves his nieces, Hellen Tricia Balcar of Bryan, Mary Heath of Alabama, Merci Brassfield of Florida, as well as nephews Billy and John of Alabama. 

The visitation will be on Thursday, August 17th from 4pm-6pm at Callaway Jones Funeral Home in Bryan. His funeral will be on Friday, August 18th at 2 p.m. at St Thomas Episcopal Church with a graveside ceremony following at Aggie Field of Honor Cemetery in College Station. Express condolences at www.CallawayJones.com.