DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it — the life and legacy of Dr. Thomas F. Freeman.
Now, some men are destined for a place. They just don't always know it yet. Thomas Franklin Freeman was born on June 27, 1919, in Richmond, Virginia, to Louis and Louise Freeman — Louise's maiden name was Willis.
From the very start, the man was running ahead of schedule. He graduated from Armstrong High School at fifteen years old. Fifteen.
While most kids his age were still figuring things out, Thomas Freeman was already on his way to Virginia Union University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in English. He didn't stop there. He went on to earn a doctorate from the Divinity School at the University of Chicago.
And if that still wasn't enough, he was also serving as pastor of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church back in Richmond. Then came 1949 — and a job offer from Texas Southern University.
A philosophy professor position. Dr. Freeman accepted it under one very specific impression: it would only be for nine months.
Nine months. Just a quick stop. Well.
Texas had other plans. After that first year, he decided to stay. He began serving as minister at Mount Horem Baptist Church in Houston's Fifth Ward, planting roots in the community as deep as any live oak you'll find out here.
And that same year — 1949 — he organized the Texas Southern University debate team. Now here's where you lean in a little closer around the fire. In 1956, those student debaters went up against Harvard University in a tournament.
Harvard. And they beat them. The TSU debate team beat Harvard University.
Under Dr. Freeman's leadership, that team would go on to win over three thousand trophies and numerous tournaments. Three thousand trophies.
There's probably a building somewhere in Houston that isn't big enough to hold them all. The school took notice. In 2009, the TSU Honors College was named after Dr.
Freeman — a sign of respect and gratitude for what he had given to Texas Southern and to the African American community. But here's what the numbers can't quite carry on their own. Dr.
Freeman taught philosophy and coached debate for more than seventy years at TSU. He pastored Mount Horem Baptist Church for sixty-nine years. In those decades of service, he directly influenced the lives of thousands of people.
Among them — and I want you to sit with these names — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Barbara Jordan. He met them.
He taught them. He influenced them. Dr.
Thomas Franklin Freeman lived one hundred years, from June 27, 1919, to June 6, 2020. He came to Houston for nine months and stayed for a lifetime — leaving, as that marker says, an indelible mark on his community and his nation. That's not a detour, friend.
That's a destination.
What the marker says
(June 27, 1919 - June 6, 2020) Celebrated philosophy professor and debate coach, Dr. Thomas Franklin Freeman, was born in Richmond, Virginia, to Louis and Louise (Willis) Freeman. Thomas Freeman attended Armstrong High School and graduated at age 15. He enrolled at Virginia Union University and earned his bachelor's degree in English. He went on to earn a doctorate from the Divinity School at the University of Chicago. Dr. Freeman was also pastor of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Richmond. In 1949, he received a job offer from Texas Southern University (TSU) as a philosophy professor. Dr. Freeman accepted the offer under the impression that it would only be for nine months. After the first year, he decided to stay at the school while serving the community as a minister at Mount Horem Baptist Church in Houston's Fifth Ward. He organized the TSU debate team in 1949. The team gained recognition and prestige after the student debaters beat Harvard University in a tournament in 1956. Under Dr. Freeman's leadership, the debate team won over 3,000 trophies and numerous tournaments. In 2009, the TSU Honors College was named after Dr. Freeman as a sign of respect and gratitude for his contributions to the school and the African American community. As a debate coach, philosophy professor and minister, Dr. Freeman directly influenced the lives of thousands of people in more than 70 years of service at TSU and 69 years pastoring Mt. Horem Baptist Church. He met, taught and influenced national and global figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Barbara Jordan. In his 100-year life, Dr. Freeman left an indelible mark on his community and nation. (2020)