| |
| |
|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
|
|
commemorates the life of Eddie Baker Freeman Jr., who died on May |
|
|
17, 2023, at the age of 67; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Eddie Freeman Jr. was born on December 3, 1955, in |
|
|
Austin; he attended Anderson High School in East Austin until it |
|
|
was closed in 1971 to further desegregation, and he graduated |
|
|
from Reagan High School in 1974; Eddie went on to attend The |
|
|
University of Texas at Austin, where he joined the Eta Theta |
|
|
Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and met his future wife, |
|
|
Zelda Choice; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Eddie moved to Dallas with his fiancée in 1980 and |
|
|
earned a bachelor's degree in business and a master's degree in |
|
|
business administration from Dallas Baptist University, where he |
|
|
became a member of the Omicron Gamma Gamma Graduate Chapter of |
|
|
Omega Psi Phi and forged lifelong connections with his fraternity |
|
|
brothers; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Passionate about social justice and committed to |
|
|
the pursuit of equality, Eddie served as the director of |
|
|
diversity, equity, and inclusion at The University of Texas at |
|
|
Arlington; he also served as the executive director of equal |
|
|
opportunity services and as president of the African American |
|
|
Faculty and Staff Association, and he made great strides in |
|
|
fostering a sense of pride and belonging among the university's |
|
|
students, staff, and faculty members; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Eddie was a member of the Sports Corporation for |
|
|
the City of Grand Prairie; he promoted athletic excellence and a |
|
|
spirit of camaraderie within the community, and he enjoyed |
|
|
cheering for his favorite teams, the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas |
|
|
Rangers, and the Dallas Mavericks; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A man of spiritual depth and devotion, Eddie was a |
|
|
member of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship for 43 years; he contributed |
|
|
to the fellowship's Christian education ministry and served as an |
|
|
elder for more than three decades; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Eddie was a caring husband to his wife of 42 |
|
|
years, Zelda Choice Freeman, and a loving father to their three |
|
|
children, Kathryn Freeman, Eddie Freeman, and Candace Freeman |
|
|
Memphis, who were a source of great pride and joy to him; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, An advocate for inclusive representation and the |
|
|
equality and civil rights of all people, Eddie was an inspiration |
|
|
to all who knew him, and his memory will be forever treasured by |
|
|
his many loved ones and by all who were privileged to share in his |
|
|
life; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
|
|
Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby extend sincere |
|
|
condolences to the bereaved family of Eddie Baker Freeman Jr.; |
|
|
and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
|
|
his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
|
|
Senate and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
|
|
memory of Eddie Freeman Jr. |