The Tennessee Star learned on Sunday night that Nashville real estate developer Bill Freeman is dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
State Representative Bob Freeman (D-Nashville), the son of Bill Freeman, confirmed his father’s passing to Fox 17.
The Nashville Scene, which was owned by Freeman, confirmed the 73-year-old committed suicide on Sunday night. Metro Nashville Police Department told The Star that Freeman’s death is being investigated as a suicide on Monday.
Freeman, who became the sole owner of The Scene and The Nashville Post in 2018, began his career in real estate in 1965, and in 1979 founded the Freeman Webb Company with his late business partner, Jimmy Webb, according to The Scene.
The outlet reported Freeman stepped down from his position at the company in October 2023, when he was succeeded by his son. His son submitted “Right to Die” legislation earlier this year that would have allowed Tennesseans to request medically assisted suicide.
Freeman also stepped down from his board position at the Nashville Airport Authority in March, when The Tennessean reported he was “excited at the prospect of traveling more and enjoying our grandchildren as they grow.”
A White House biography for Freeman reveals the real estate developer was the largest Tennessee-based owner of apartments and offices, with his company owning more than 17,000 individual units. Freeman also served on the boards of multiple charities, including the Nashville Davidson County Mental Health and Veterans Assistance Foundation, and served on the University of Tennessee President’s Council.
Freeman was appointed to the J. William Fullbright Foreign Scholarship Board by President Joe Biden in 2022, according to the biography, which notes he was previously appointed to the Kennedy Center Advisory Committee on the Arts by former President Barack Obama. He was also once the treasurer for the Tennessee Democratic Party.
During his 2015 run to become Nashville’s mayor, Ballotpedia reveals Freeman promised to improve safety by “working with law enforcement, community organizations and other not-for-profit organizations,” and promised to create an “annual report card” for various Nashville agencies to chart their progress on recruiting new employees based on “diversity and inclusivity.”
He is survived by his wife, Babs Tinsley Freeman, his sons Bob, Harvey and Mike, and seven grandchildren.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
