Texas Southern University will host a public visitation for Dr. Thomas F. Freeman on Tuesday, June 16, from 10 a.m.-12:45 p.m., with a memorial service to follow, in the Health & Physical Education (H&PE) Arena (3010 Wheeler Avenue, Houston, TX 77004).
The event will also be live-streamed on www.tsu.edu and on TSU’s social media channels. Parking will be
available in the university’s West Garage off Blodgett Street. Social distancing guidelines will be in place
during the event, including required facial coverings for all attendees.
Dr. Freeman, a legend, educational icon, and sage to innumerable students at Texas Southern University,
passed away on Saturday, June 6, of natural causes at age 100.
The esteemed debate coach, Emeritus former faculty member, orator and minister at Mount Horem Baptist
Church in Houston, arrived at Texas Southern University in 1949. Under his leadership, TSU debaters have
garnered hundreds of national and international titles during its existence. Dr. Freeman instructed such
iconic national and global figures as Representative Barbara Jordan and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and
advised Academy Award winner Denzel Washington in the 2007 movie, The Great Debaters.
In 2009, the TSU Board of Regents named the new Honors College after Dr. Freeman, helping to ensure
that his legacy would forever inspire scholars at TSU to become leaders in the nation and the world.
Dr. Freeman was born in Richmond, VA. His long-time wife, Clarice Estell, will turn 100 later this year.
Together, they raised three children – Thomas Franklin Jr., Carter Evan, and Dr. Carlotta Vanessa. They
have several grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
As Dr. Freeman was founder of the world-renowned TSU Debate Team, a memorial fund has been
established in his honor. Donations to the Dr. Thomas F. Freeman Memorial Fund will be for the purposes
of advancing the TSU Debate Team program. For more information, visit
https://giving.tsu.edu/freemanfund/.
