Dr. Thomas Freeman (1919–2020), legendary debate coach

Dr. Thomas Freeman was a renowneddebate coach at Texas Southern Universitywho taught Martin Luther King Jr.duringa70-yearcareer.

• Died:Saturday,June6, 2020. (Who else died onJune6?)

• Details of Death:Died at the age of100.

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InfluentialDebate Coach

Dr. Freeman started teaching debate at Texas Southern University in 1949 and was stillteachingat the age of 100.During hislong-esteemedcareer, he taught Martin Luther King Jr., and representatives Barbara Jordan and Mickey Leland. Denzel Washington chose Dr. Freeman to work with the actors in the2007 film The Great Debaters,atrue story of a black debate team in the 1930s that defeats an all-white team.

Dr. Freeman on Racism

"Unless something is done to stem the tide, we're going to be suffering for a long time." - interview with ABC News

What they said about him

Full Obituary: ABC News