FINDLAY Russell, farmer and entrepreneur who campaigned successfully to widen the Glasgow-Stirling road, and was involved in founding Glasgow Zoo, has died at the age of 87.

Findlay never worked an eight-hour day when, in twice the time, he would achieve three times the output. Innovator and inventor, neither did he employ orthodox methods in having the Glasgow-Stirling road improved.

This was in 1953 and, after cannily surveying traffic on every major road in central Scotland, he was able to point out that the 25-mile stretch of single carriageway was "Scotland's busiest road". With an average width of just 18ft, it was also the narrowest. It was also some 14 years after original road improvements had been halted by war. Mounting the pressure was the Traders' Road Transport Association, founded by Findlay, and of which he just happened also to be chairman.

The road traders collared MPs, lobbied Westminster and engaged the press. Behind the scene, Russell used the embarrassment factor, erected homemade signs for several miles reading "You're on Scotland's most dangerous road", "1637 accidents in six years", and "What? No money", the last referring to the effects of the postwar credit squeeze.

Russell could be awkward, but he also did his homework.

He discovered that when work had been halted in 1939, money had actually been granted. Therefore, he argued, it was still available. The upshot was a meeting with J Henderson Stewart, under-secretary of state for Scotland, and the building of the road to include a deviation away from Cumbernauld new town.

Born at the family farm of Haircraigs near Denny, and twice dux of Dennyloanhead School, he sacrificed the opportunity of higher education to help out on the family farm. He made his money by finding a niche, such as supplying Calor gas to the agricultural industry for home and dairy use. Always ready for a photo opportunity, he launched his enterprise with a propane-powered Ford Cortina offering sample runs from the Dobbie Hall, Larbert.

The venue was appropriate, given that the hall would have been demolished but for Findlay's efforts.

Findlay was nothing if not innovative - farm machinery, ice-cream production, vending machines and self-build homes all f lowed from the Russell mind and proved his Midas touch. In 1936 he pioneered a mobile milk bar to sell off his father's surplus milk, gained the interest of coach-builder Walter Alexander, and parked it at Callendar Riggs outside the old bus station, selling milk shakes. Two days before Rangers took on Falkirk at Brockville in the Scottish Cup tie, Russell gave the home team the run of the milk bar, reaping newspaper publicity by the column-yard.

At the opening of the Kincardine Bridge in 1936, Findlay had Bette Kidd, a young tearoom manageress, employed to staff one of his milk bars. She worked for him on another milk bar at the 1939 Empire Exhibition, and in 1940 they married.

He sold Haircraigs in 1947 to concentrate on his half-dozen businesses. By this time his icecream sales at the Highland Show - the days when the show moved around Scotland - had made a name for him, and he took a wider look at agricultural shows, supplying catering, tents, marquees and PA systems. Where he went, business followed, at shows, Open golf and motor racing.

His loudspeaker vans even had cigarette-vending machines.

After the Highland Show in Dundee when the turnover reached [pounds]3500 in one day and 35,000 customers were served, he went to the United States to find new ideas. On his return he invented an ice-cream server which kept several dozen cones crisp, with one ready for the next ice-cream. He relished his election as a member of the Institute of Patentees and Inventors.

Always interested in his community, he was a local councillor for more than 30 years, a special constable who rose to commandant, a Rotarian who won the coveted Paul Harris Fellowship "for service above self", a driving force behind Age Concern, and a constant worker for the Order of St John. He was at the forefront of the saving of historic Callendar House, and the restoration of Kinnaird House.

Passionately interested in animals, he was a founder member at the 1947 opening of Calderpark Zoo. Unsurprisingly, he gained the catering franchise, using the bodies of two Army lorries as kiosks. But when forced to stump up rates on them as permanent buildings, he made sure his new kiosks for Craigend Zoo (now Mugdock Country Park) were on wheels.

He was predeceased by his wife, Bette (Elizabeth Kidd), and survived by his children Margaret, Archie and Elizabeth, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

John Findlay Russell, farmer, entrepreneur and campaigner; born June 19, 1930, died June 4, 2005.