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Joseph L. Dugan, a 39-year Teamster member and industry innovator, recently passed away. He is survived by daughters  Tracy and Bridgett and sons Kelly, Sean and Casey.

A memorial service was held in Las Vegas, where he was remembered as a wonderful father, a skilled Hollywood professional, and a warm and caring person.

Dugan began his career as a driver for CHIPS in 1975. His brother-in-law Ken Moore brought him into the industry, and he immediately spotted the opportunity to be both a driver and a businessman. Soon, Dugan had purchased his first honey wagon in 1979 from Jackie Crane and began working on the show Crime Story.

 During his long career he owned honey wagons, a catering truck and wardrobe trailer.

His daughter, Tracy, recalls a story her father once told of the shooting conditions during Red Dawn. “He was working with the catering,” she remembers, “and they were filming in New Mexico. He said that it got so cold that the food in the catering truck actually froze. Perhaps it was then he decided to try wardrobe. He didn’t mind the conditions though; he loved his job.”

In 1978 Dugan started his own business, Joe Dugan Studio Rentals, which began with honey wagons, but now provides wardrobe trailers to the industry. His daughter Tracy currently runs the business along with her brothers and sister.

Perhaps the most enduring legacy he left for the industry concerned innovations in wardrobe trailer design. He is considered a pioneer in the modern-day wardrobe trailer, having been the first to design a combination wardrobe and makeup trailer in 1979.

 In his free time, Dugan enjoyed the freedom of his 650-acre ranch in Colorado, far from the clogged city streets in and around Hollywood. Every year, from October until December, he would take his family there to hunt and fish.

 His family would like to thank everyone in the industry who helped Joe during his long career. “He will be dearly missed and never forgotten by those who knew and loved him,” said his daughter Tracy.