Bill Freeman, Nashville real estate developer, major Democratic fundraiser, dies at age 73

Bill Freeman. (Photo: Submitted)

William H. “Bill” Freeman, a Nashville business titan, former mayoral candidate and a leading Democratic Party fundraiser, died Sunday night at the age of 73, multiple sources have confirmed.

There is no information on the cause of death.

A native of Nashville, Freeman attended the University of Tennessee before dropping out to begin his career in real estate. After befriending Jimmy Webb through their involvement in the Nashville Junior Chamber of Commerce, the two launched the Freeman Webb Company, a real estate investment, management and brokerage firm, in 1979. Before that, he worked for the Metro Development and Housing Agency.

Freeman was the most significant Democratic fundraiser in Tennessee and the Southeast, raising money for President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden, as well as countless Democratic local and federal candidates. He was an early endorsement of Biden, who appointed Freeman to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Freeman also served as a member of the White House Historical Association and in 2009 as treasurer of the Tennessee Democratic Party.

In a statement, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell said, “Tonight we lost Bill Freeman. Bill was many things – real estate visionary, mayoral candidate, pilot, media mogul, staunch Democrat – and friend. Our city, state and nation are better for his tenacity and commitment. We will miss him dearly and my heart goes out to his family.”

In March, Freeman resigned from the Metro Nashville Airport Authority.

He ran for mayor of Nashville in 2015, coming in third after losing one round.

He practiced martial arts and was a keen pilot.

Freeman is survived by his wife, Babs Tinsley Freeman and three sons, Harvey, Mike and State Representative Bob Freeman.

This is a development story.