Tribute to a legend: Bill Freeman (84), passed December 18, 2015. Born January 27, 1931.
The name, the legend of Bill Freeman spans throughout the High School hallways within Osawatomie and Lawrence High Schools forever having left a footprint of success. That success, comes from his many hundreds of student-athletes he coached at both schools before retiring at the conclusion of the 1989 season.
32 years of Coaching, both Football and Track & Field, led him on a path beginning at Baxter Springs, Parker Rural, Nickerson, Osawatomie Trojans, and the Lawrence Chesty Lions. In his time with the Osawatomie Trojans, they finished State with Titles in 1966 and 1973 respectively.
Bill Freeman retired from Education after the 1989-90 school year with the Chesty Lions.
Although he was not one for slowing down after leaving the classroom, he returned to central Kansas where he became Mayor for 21 years of LeRoy, KS. In this capacity, he was also a Deacon of his local church, and owner of a local bank wearing quite a few hats.
Enclosed are some features of his impact on the Lawrence Football program, and the Sunflower League Football History
* 6A State Titles: 1979-1984-1986-1987-1989 (5)
Sunflower Champions: 1977-1979-1981-1985-1986-1987 (6)
District Titles: 1981-1982-1983-1984-1985-1986-1987-1988-1989 (9)
* Kansas Hall of Fame Class of 2014
* Shrine Bowl Coach 1973 - Osawatomie Trojans
* 2 State Track & Field Titles with the Chesty Lions
Osawatomie Trojans
Season-Overall-Playoffs-Totals-Playoffs
1969 6-2-1 ---
1970 unknown
1971 unknown
1972 8-1 ---
1973 12-0 3-0 12-0 3-0 - STATE CHAMPIONS
Season-Overall-Playoffs-Totals-Playoffs
Lawrence Chesty Lions
1974 3-6 --- 3-6 ---
1975 5-4 --- 8-10 ---
1976 5-4 --- 13-14 ---
1977 8-2 0-1 21-16 0-1
1978 9-3 2-1 30-19 2-2 - 2nd Runner up to Wichita Southeast
1979 11-1 3-0 41-20 5-2 - STATE CHAMPIONS #1
1980 6-3 --- 47-23 ---
* Winning streak of 8 dating back to week 9 of the '79 State season
1981 9-1 0-1 56-24 5-3
1982 7-3 0-1 63-27 5-4
1983 6-5 1-1 69-32 6-5
1984 11-1 3-0 80-33 9-5 - STATE CHAMPIONS #2
1985 10-1 1-1 90-34 10-6
* Winning streak of 20 games from week #3 of the 1984 season vs SM North to week #9 of the 1985 season before falling to SM West in the 6A State Semi-Finals vs. Harold Wambsagans Vikings
1986 12-0 3-0 102-34 13-6 - STATE CHAMPIONS #3
1987 11-1 3-0 113-35 16-6 - STATE CHAMPIONS #4
* Winning streak of 17 games starting in week #1 of the 1986 season with a win over Topeka West Chargers to week #5 over Bill Stiegemeier's Lancers with a 27-0 shutout. In week #6, the Lions fell to Wambsgan's Vikings again two seasons later after the '85 season was complete
1988 10-2 2-1 123-37 18-7 - 2nd State Runner up to Manhattan Indians
1989 11-1 3-0 134-38 21-7 - STATE CHAMPIONS #5
* Concluded Head Coaching career with 8 straight wins from week #4 with a 41-7 defeat of SM East to the 6A State Final game in which the Manhattan Indians fell victim to the Lions 28-21. This was a revenge game of sorts as the Lions lost in the 6A State Final during the 1988 season to Manhattan losing 14-7.
* Ranks #4 All-Time in Sunflower League Coaching with a record of 134W-38L-172 GC-779 W%
- 3 more wins than SM South Raiders Coaching legend John Davis with 131 All-Time Wins
- 21W-7L-28 Playoff Games-750 W% - Ranks 3rd All-Time in Playoff Wins (in todays Modern era)
Head Coach - School(s) - Playoff Records (Sunflower Only)
Gene Weir Olathe North 24-7 - Richland Rebels TX post-season not included
Dick Purdy SM West & Lawrence 23-9 - Lee's Summit Tigers post-season not included
Bill Freeman Lawrence 21-7 - Osawatmomie Trojans post-season not included
Coach Freeman's success of his own, helped many of his former Students from all over the State. You can read those thoughts about him in post' throughout the interwebs. His ability to teach his students about life outside of the classroom is documented so well that many of his footprints have made their way to the Kansas City metro area.
Thank you Bill Freeman for your contributions to the Sunflower League.
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