Julius T. Freeman KB2OFY SK
Former Tuskegee Airman and Congressional Gold Medal recipient Julius T. Freeman, KB2OFV of Spring Garden, Long Island, New York has passed away. Freeman, aged 89, suffered a heart attack on July 22, 2016 and died at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park.
Mr. Freeman, originally from Lexington, Kentucky, served during World War II as a medic with the famed 332nd Tuskegee Airman in France and Germany.
An amateur radio operator (and one time ARRL member), trap shooter, and vintage car enthusiast, Julius Freeman was also a frequent speaker at schools and civic organizations.
According to Mr. Freeman, when he arrived back in the United States following his overseas service, he was shocked to see that restrooms and other facilities still bore the "Whites Only" labels. He had related that, disgusted, he removed his uniform and other military memorabilia and discarded them. He did not acknowledge his military service again until 2007.
Mr. Freeman was well known as a flamboyant and highly successful car salesman. Following the war, he began his automotive career in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Freeman related that he had saved the live of a young Jewish soldier, whose father gave Freeman the opportunity to work as a salesman at his Hudson Motorcar dealership. Freeman was so successful in this venture that he became the first black spokesperson to appear in television commercials in Ohio.
In 1954, a friend thinking that Mr. Freeman would enjoy even greater success in New York, lured him to the east. Julius Freeman was soon to learn that New York did not have jobs for black car salesmen. Freeman went to work emptying trash cans on the graveyard shift at the Empire State Building.
In 1957 he finally landed a job in New York selling Hudson automobiles. Once more he became successful selling cars. In 1977 he sold over $1 million dollars worth of Lincolns. While the bulk of his customers were white people, Julius Freeman was "the" car salesman to black celebrities. Sammy Davis, Jr., James Brown, Dick Gregory, Joe Louis, Wilson Pickett, Pee Wee Reese, and many more lined up to purchase cars from Mr. Freeman.
He continued in the auto business until he retired in 2008. He re-entered the business in 2015, immediately starring in a commercial for South Shore Honda in Valley Stream, Long Island.
In 2007 President George Bush awarded Freeman and the other "Red Tails" the Congressional Gold Medal. Afterwards, Julius Freeman once again embraced his military pass and began visiting schools and educating youth about the role that the Tuskegee Airman had played in our nations history.
Julius T. Freeman KB2OFY was married to his wife Dorothy for 53 years. She survives, along with their three children.
Mr. Freeman, originally from Lexington, Kentucky, served during World War II as a medic with the famed 332nd Tuskegee Airman in France and Germany.
An amateur radio operator (and one time ARRL member), trap shooter, and vintage car enthusiast, Julius Freeman was also a frequent speaker at schools and civic organizations.
According to Mr. Freeman, when he arrived back in the United States following his overseas service, he was shocked to see that restrooms and other facilities still bore the "Whites Only" labels. He had related that, disgusted, he removed his uniform and other military memorabilia and discarded them. He did not acknowledge his military service again until 2007.
Mr. Freeman was well known as a flamboyant and highly successful car salesman. Following the war, he began his automotive career in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Freeman related that he had saved the live of a young Jewish soldier, whose father gave Freeman the opportunity to work as a salesman at his Hudson Motorcar dealership. Freeman was so successful in this venture that he became the first black spokesperson to appear in television commercials in Ohio.
In 1954, a friend thinking that Mr. Freeman would enjoy even greater success in New York, lured him to the east. Julius Freeman was soon to learn that New York did not have jobs for black car salesmen. Freeman went to work emptying trash cans on the graveyard shift at the Empire State Building.
In 1957 he finally landed a job in New York selling Hudson automobiles. Once more he became successful selling cars. In 1977 he sold over $1 million dollars worth of Lincolns. While the bulk of his customers were white people, Julius Freeman was "the" car salesman to black celebrities. Sammy Davis, Jr., James Brown, Dick Gregory, Joe Louis, Wilson Pickett, Pee Wee Reese, and many more lined up to purchase cars from Mr. Freeman.
He continued in the auto business until he retired in 2008. He re-entered the business in 2015, immediately starring in a commercial for South Shore Honda in Valley Stream, Long Island.
In 2007 President George Bush awarded Freeman and the other "Red Tails" the Congressional Gold Medal. Afterwards, Julius Freeman once again embraced his military pass and began visiting schools and educating youth about the role that the Tuskegee Airman had played in our nations history.
Julius T. Freeman KB2OFY was married to his wife Dorothy for 53 years. She survives, along with their three children.