Bill Freeman Dies at 73

Bill Freeman — the co-founder of Nashville-based real estate company Freeman Webb, a Democratic Party powerbroker, a former mayoral candidate and the owner of Williamson Scene parent company FW Publishing — has died by suicide at his Green Hills home.

According to his son Bob Freeman, Freeman died Sunday night. He was 73.

Freeman — a longtime supporter of local journalism and a candidate for mayor in 2015 — teamed with friend and business partner Jimmy Webb to purchase the Nashville Scene and sister publications the Nashville Post and Nfocus in 2018 via FW Publishing. Webb died in 2019.

Freeman was a graduate of the University of Tennessee. He was appointed by President Joe Biden to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, and was also a treasurer of the Tennessee Democratic Party. 

"Bill was many things — real estate visionary, mayoral candidate, pilot, media magnate, staunch Democrat — and friend," shared Mayor Freddie O'Connell in a statement Sunday night. "Our city, state, and nation are better for his tenacity and commitment. We will miss him dearly, and my heart is with his family."

In October of last year, Bill Freeman transitioned ownership of Freeman Webb Company to Bob Freeman, who also serves as a representative in Nashville's state House District 56. At the time, Bill Freeman said he wanted to spend time with his family, including his wife Babs Freeman. He had previously suffered two strokes.