Thomas Freeman

Thomas Freeman (June 27, 1919 – June 6, 2020) was an American lecturer in religion, a preacher, and a debate coach. His students included Martin Luther King Jr. at Morehouse College and U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan at Texas Southern University.

According to his New York Times obituary on June 17, 2020, Freeman was associated with the Texas Southern University debate team that "rose to national prominence". Freeman founded the team in 1949 and led it for more than 60 years. He also served as a consultant for Denzel Washington on the film The Great Debaters, offering actors a training camp on how to debate.

Biography

Early life and education Freeman was born in Richmond, Virginia, one of fifteen children born to his father Louis Hyne Freeman, a vegetable peddler, and his mother Louise Elizabeth (Willis) Freeman, who managed the home.