Trezevant, Marye Brooks

Submitted by Mike Miller

Trezevant, Marye Brooks, general manager of the New Orleans Association of Commerce, and widely known in connection with the activities of this organization and other similar associations, was born at Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 9, 1872; son of Marye B. and Susan (Simmons) Trezevant, the former a native of Memphis, Tenn., and the latter of Charleston, S. C. The Trezevant family originated from the French Huguenots. Two brothers of the family name came to America in 1668, first locating at Charleston, S. C., but later removing to Virginia. Marye B. Trezevant, Sr., the father, is at this time a practicing attorney at Memphis, where the mother also resides. At the beginning of the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate army as second lieutenant of the Shelby Greys, of Shelby county, Tenn., and served throughout the war. He had attended a military college prior to the time of the war, and after the surrender took up the study of law, in due time being admitted to the bar and beginning the practice of his profession in the city of Memphis, where he has since remained in active practice. The paternal grandfather, Maj. John T. Trezevant, was the first mayor of Memphis. He also served in the Confederate army, with the rank of major, and had charge of the arsenal at Charleston, S. C. Major Trezevant died in the year 1887. Marye B. Trezevant, the son, subject of this sketch, was the 3rd of 6 children born to his parents. In the course of his education he attended the public schools at Memphis and later a private educational institution, thereafter matriculating at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tenn., from which he graduated within the regulation time. When his education had been completed he entered the service of his uncle, Theo. Brooks Trezevant, in mercantile business. After 10 years passed in this connection he resigned and, in 1897, came to New Orleans as a reporter on the Daily States, there remaining 6 or 7 years and successively filling the positions of reporter, city editor, and ultimately assistant manager of the States. While in this connection he was also a contributor to the columns of the Harlequin, a weekly publication, and, having some time previously been a student of art, also furnished cartoons, for the Harlequin. At the end of this term of service he went to New York and for a time was connected with the New York Mail and Express. After a time in this work Mr. Trezevant was appointed advertising manager for the Southern Pacific R. R., with headquarters at Houston, Tex., and proceeding to that city he filled the latter position with conspicuous ability until the year 1906, when he returned to New Orleans as secretary of the Progressive union. Later he was advanced to the more important position of secretary and manager, and upon the reorganization of this institution, when its name was altered to the Association of Commerce, July 1, 1913. Mr. Trezevant was made general manager of the Association of Commerce. Mr. Trezevant is a member of the Country club, the Chess, Checkers and Whist club, the Louisiana Historical society, Tulane society of Economics, National Geographic society, the Ad. club, the South Carolina Huguenot society and the Philharmonic society, and Louisiana Lodge No. 102, Free and Accepted Masons. He was successively president of the Louisiana Commercial Secretaries' association, president of the Southern Commercial Secretaries' association, and president of the American Association of Commercial Executives. Oct. 19, 1907, Mr. Trezevant was married to Miss May Randolph, who was born in the City of New Orleans and is a descendant of the Randolph family of Virginia, her parents being John and Emma (Perham) Randolph. Mrs. Trezevant's father was formerly a prominent cotton factor of New Orleans. Mr. And Mrs. Trezevant are members of the Episcopal church. A devotee of athletics, Mr. Trezevant was at one time southern champion at 100 yards, and a football half-back on the Memphis Athletic club team, champion of the South at the time.

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 437-438. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.