Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HJR0038 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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2	2	<BillNo> <Sponsor>
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4	4	HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 38
5	5	By Freeman
6	6
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8	8	HJR0038
9	9	001287
10	10	- 1 -
11	11
12	12	A RESOLUTION to honor the memory of Bill Freeman of
13	13	Nashville.
14	14
15	15	WHEREAS, the members of this General Assembly were greatly saddened to learn of
16	16	the passing of William H. "Bill" Freeman, who built a business empire, which included real
17	17	estate, and was a leading fundraiser for the Democratic Party; and
18	18	WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman cofounded Freeman Webb Company, a multifamily real estate
19	19	investment and management firm with over 18,000 rental homes and apartments across
20	20	Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Alabama, more than 9,000 of which are in the
21	21	Nashville area; Freeman Webb earned the title of "best company to work for" year after year;
22	22	and
23	23	WHEREAS, a man of impeccable character and a true luminary in Nashville, Bill
24	24	Freeman thwarted a burgeoning extortion scheme in the Bellevue community in the late 1980s;
25	25	he made a bid for mayor in 2015 and considered a run for governor in 2018; and
26	26	WHEREAS, he was also a staunch supporter of the Democratic Party, backing the 2020
27	27	Biden-Harris presidential campaign and Phil Bredesen's 2002 and 2006 campaigns for
28	28	governor; over the years, he gave more than $7.8 million in direct federal contributions to mostly
29	29	Democratic candidates and committees, including more than $1.1 million to the Democratic
30	30	National Committee; and
31	31	WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman, himself a pilot, served on the Metro Nashville Airport Authority
32	32	Board for eight years under three mayors before stepping down in March 2024; in 2023, he
33	33	retired from running Freeman Webb, passing the torch to his son, Bob Freeman; and
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38	38	WHEREAS, he also owned the alt-weekly Nashville Scene and business-focused
39	39	Nashville Post, purchasing the publications in 2018 to ensure they remained local rather than
40	40	being sold to a New York investment firm, as had been considered by the previous owners; and
41	41	WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman's public service further included serving on the boards of the
42	42	Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Tennessee State University, and the J. William
43	43	Fulbright Scholarship Awards; and
44	44	WHEREAS, Bill Freeman was devoted to his hometown neighborhood of Donelson,
45	45	where he and his wife had been elementary students together, and was a longtime member of
46	46	Hillsboro Presbyterian Church; and
47	47	WHEREAS, he was also deeply devoted to his family and always endeavored to remain
48	48	true to family values of the highest order; and
49	49	WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman is survived by his beloved wife of fifty years, Barbara Tinsley
50	50	"Babs" Freeman; three sons, the Honorable James Robert (Rachel) Freeman, Corporal William
51	51	Harvey Freeman, USMC, Retired, (Eucaris Carlino), and Michael Edgar (Kimberly) Freeman;
52	52	and seven grandchildren, Katie Freeman, Grace Freeman, Will Freeman, Mikey Freeman,
53	53	Hazel Freeman, Ella Freeman, and Elena Freeman; and
54	54	WHEREAS, he is further survived by his sisters, Beth Freeman (David) Moore, Barbara
55	55	"Babs" Freeman-Loftis (Thomas N. Loftis, Sr.), Brenda S. Freeman (Jeff Jones), and Bonnie
56	56	Freeman (Tim) Endsley, as well as a host of nieces and nephews; and
57	57	WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Louis Freeman and
58	58	Virginia Margaret Gannon Freeman, and his sister, Rebecca Freeman; and
59	59	WHEREAS, throughout his many worthy endeavors in both public and private life, Bill
60	60	Freeman distinguished himself as a beacon of kindness and wisdom and a stalwart community
61	61	leader; and
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66	66	WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman was an incredible force for good, and Nashville, the State of
67	67	Tennessee, and our nation are better for his tenacity, commitment, and willingness to step up
68	68	and serve; and
69	69	WHEREAS, it is fitting that we should pay tribute to the bountiful life of this exceptional
70	70	public servant and human being; now, therefore,
71	71	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
72	72	FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
73	73	CONCURRING, that we honor the memory of William H. "Bill" Freeman, reflecting fondly upon
74	74	his enduring legacy in Nashville and beyond.
75	75	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we extend our sympathy and condolences to the
76	76	family and friends of Mr. Freeman.
77	77	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared
78	78	for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
79	79	the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear
80	80	without House or Senate designation.