JACK FREEMAN,
An American Hero!

The death of Jack Freeman really bothers me. It's like the loss of your father in a sense. He was the Father of the NHPF and probably the biggest contributor of land, buildings, money, and time, ever in the history of the NHPA.

Why does his death bother me? The welfare of the NHPA! Wouldn't we all like to contribute to horseshoe pitching as much as he did? I still have a dream here in Mount Clemens that we can build an arena, to pitch in, based on what he built in Joelton, TN.

One of his dreams was to have every member in the NHPA receive the NHPA Horseshoe Pitchers Newsline magazine as part of the NHPA dues. Delegates at the national meetings have voted it down at least once. Maybe as the last gesture of thanks to Mr. Freeman, the NHPA will find a way to make this wish of his come true.

I met Mr. Freeman only once and that was in Bismarck during the 2000 World Tournament. I've visited the web site of the Jack Freeman Courts many times reading about him and drooling over the structures in Joelton. So, I recognized him as he was walking in the parking lot. I called out to him and I introduced myself as he turned around. I thanked him for his contributions to horseshoe pitching and wished him good luck on getting the magazine proposal passed. I asked if it was OK if my brother took a picture of me with him. He said, "Sure." I have that picture to treasure the rest of my life. I met one of the greatest horseshoe pitching promoters, ever!

Jack Freeman, 1934-2003

Jack Freeman is an American Hero! He's one of 13 children and a graduate of the University of Kentucky where he played football under Paul "Bear" Bryant. After graduation went to medical school and became a Pathologist in Nashville, TN. Served time in the military and, lucky for us loved to pitch horseshoes. That love gave us the use of over 60 acres of land, buildings with courts, the NHPF, and the Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame.

He did get to see the beginnings of the NHPA Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame.

But, what does the future really hold for the NHPA?
We definitely are in good hands because of him.

However, more NHPF contributions are needed. More people introduced to pitching and recruited to join the NHPA. More indoor horseshoe pitching arenas to be built. An inexpensive pit material invented for indoor pitching that has blue clay characteristics and is dustless. And, for all of us, to love the Sport of Horseshoe Pitching as much as Jack Freeman!

January 8, 2004