Thomas Freeman (debate coach)

{{Short description|American educator (1919–2020)}}

Thomas Freeman (June 27, 1919 – June 6, 2020){{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=ArLuther |title=Dr. Thomas Freeman, debate coach who taught MLK at Morehouse, dies |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/thomas-freeman-debate-coach-who-taught-mlk-morehouse-dies/bEgLKzPxeKElKHSgfIaxaL/ |website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=11 June 2020}} was an American lecturer in religion, a preacher, and a debate coach. His students included Martin Luther King Jr., U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Jordan,{{cite web |last1=Vine |first1=Katy |title=Tips From the Great Debater |url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/articles/tips-from-the-great-debater/ |website=Texas Monthly |date=2 April 2014 |access-date=11 June 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Britto |first1=Brittany |title=Texas Southern to host public visitation, memorial service for late debate coach Dr. Thomas Freeman |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/education/campus-chronicles/article/Texas-Southern-to-host-public-visitation-15331585.php |website=Houston Chronicle |date=11 June 2020 |access-date=11 June 2020}} and Denzel Washington.

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". It was founded by Freeman in 1949. Freeman led the team for more than 60 years and he also served as a visiting professor at Morehouse College.{{cite web|url=http://diverseeducation.com/article/16479/|title=Philosophy Professor Still Teaching after More than 60 Years at Texas Southern|last=cmaadmin|date=October 5, 2011|work=DiverseEducation.com|access-date=April 2, 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/On-Founders-Day-TSU-honors-retiring-debate-coach-4813575.php|title=On Founders Day, TSU honors retiring debate coach|author=|date=|work=HoustonChronicle.com|access-date=April 2, 2017}}