Emporia State University Athletics

Freeman was a four-year letterman at offensive guard for the Hornets from 1949-53 who went on to become one of the most successful high school football coaches in Kansas.  In 36 years of coaching, Freeman posted a 242-81-3 record and won Kansas state championships in football in three different classifications.  Perhaps he is best known for his success at Lawrence High School, where he coached from 1974-90.  His teams compiled a 134-38 record and won five Class 6A state titles.  He also guided the Lions track team to state titles in 1989 and 1990.  For his distinguished coaching career, which also included stops at Baxter Springs, Parker Rural, Nickerson, LeRoy, and Osawatomie, Freeman was elected to the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame in 1996 by the Jayhawk Chapter in Lawrence.  The Burlington native also coached six high school playerswho went on to careers in the National Football League.  Freeman, who lives in LeRoy, has served as that city’s mayor for more than six years.