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Photo Credit: Bill Freeman

One of the most decorated coaches in Kansas Football history, Freeman coached at six high schools winning six state titles.

A native Burlington, Kan. he started his coaching career in 1953 at Baxter Springs High School. From there he moved to Parker Rural, Nickerson and Le Roy. At Le Roy High School his 8-man teams had a 33-11-1 record from 1960-64 and were ranked as the consensus No. 1 in 1962.

In 1965 he moved to Osawatomie where his team received another consensus No. 1 ranking in 1966 and a Class 3A state championship in 1973.

His 1974 he took over the storied program at Lawrence and continued its winning tradition. Freeman led the Chesty Lions from 1974-89 winning five Kansas Class 6A championships. He compiled a 134-38 record at Lawrence and a 242-81-3 mark for his career.

Freeman also coached Lawrence to two track and field titles while he was at the school. After retiring from teaching he moved Le Roy where he owned a bank and was also the town’s mayor. Freeman passed away in 2015 at the age of 84.