SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1814
A Resolution in memory of Reverend Doctor Edward A. Freeman.
WHEREAS, Reverend Doctor Edward A. Freeman, 84, retired minister of the First Baptist Church
in Kansas City, died January 26; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Freeman became pastor of the First Baptist Church in June 1946 and retired
from this position in June 1996--a period of 50 years' service causing him to be hailed by many as a
``Twentieth Century Giant''; and
WHEREAS, During those 50 years his accomplishments were many at First Baptist and in the
local, national and international communities. His style was visionary and his driving passion was to
help and empower people. The Rev. Dr. Freeman helped the local community in the fight for civil
rights as a community activist and president of the Kansas City Chapter of the NAACP; by serving on
the Kansas City, Kansas Planning Commission from 1955 to 1995 and by chairing this committee for
29 years; by serving as a member of the Kansas Board of Probation and Parole; by serving as president
of the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Kansas; by serving on the Kansas City, Kansas Crime
Prevention Council; by serving for many years on the Board of Directors of the Douglass National
Bank, and by interceding in numerous personal, business and church matters at the request of those
involved. He served as president of the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Kansas; president of
the Sunday School and Baptist Training Union Congress of the National Baptist Convention, USA;
and first vice president of the Baptist World Alliance for five years in the 1980s. As a strong advocate
for higher education, with a special interest in the development of young members of the clergy, Dr.
Freeman served as adjunct professor at Central Baptist Theological Seminary for many years, as well
as serving as a member of the Board of Directors; and
WHEREAS, He traveled all over the world, often by request, to work with people of different
faiths, races, ethnic backgrounds and cultures. During the hostage crisis in 1980, he and three other
African-American ministers went to Iran to meet with Iranian religious leaders to try to open up a
dialogue with the Islamic religious leaders. In 1994, he led a delegation from the Kansas City area to
South Africa to invite Nelson Mandela to Kansas City. Although a visit could not be scheduled at that
time, the team made valuable contacts with officials of President Mandela's government; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Freeman has been the recipient of numerous awards. The most recent ones: The
Meeker Award from Ottawa University, which is given to individuals who have demonstrated a life of
sacrifice, service to the disadvantaged, profound stewardship of life and unrelenting humanitarian
services, worthiness of emulation and a limited role model; and the Martin Luther King Jr. Citizenship
Award for community service, which embraced the philosophy of Dr. King, presented by the Kansas
City, Kansas Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Celebration Committee; and
WHEREAS, Surviving are his wife, Ruth Anthony Freeman; two sons, Edward A. Freeman Jr., San
Diego, California, and William N. Freeman, Kansas City, Missouri; one daughter, Constance M. Lin-
desay, Kansas City, Missouri; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild: Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas: That we extend our deepest sympathy to the
family of the Reverend Doctor Edward A. Freeman; and
Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to provide four enrolled copies
of this resolution to Mrs. Edward A. Freeman, 3620 Oak, Kansas City, Kansas 66104 and one copy to
Senator Jones.
Senate Resolution No. 1814 was sponsored by Senator Sherman JonesI hereby certify that the above RESOLUTION originated in the SENATE,
and was adopted by that body
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