Georgia Southern Athletics Hall of Fame
A very generous, thoughtful and dedicated donor to the Georgia Southern Department of Athletics, William "Bill" Freeman was also philanthropic to many areas of the University in general... Has been credited with much of today's athletic and football success because of a significant contribution made to GSU and Southern Boosters in 1997 which has provided financial stability to the program... Was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree from Georgia Southern University on May 8, 1999 in recognition of his personal and financial support of the institution... Provided eight full four-year scholarships to Georgia Southern's College of Business and Administration students, beginning in 1990 was the department's ‘Alumnus of the Year’ in 1991... Served on the Southern Boosters Board of Directors and on the Business Advisory Council of the College of Business Administration... Recipient of GSU's Eagle Lifetime Achievement Award during the alumni award's banquet and ceremony on February 13, 1999... An Honorary member of Beta Gamma Sigma. Graduated from Georgia Teachers College with a bachelor of science degree in 1957 before completing requirements as a Certified Public Accountant two years later... In 1991, he graciously began funding the Georgia Southern College of Business Administration's ‘Professor of the Year’ Award... Served as President, Director and Stockholder of Watkins Associated Industries, Inc., a holding company based in Atlanta... Was a founding member and director of the Merchants Bank in Atlanta and was an officer and director in several other firms and businesses in Georgia, Florida and Tennessee during his outstanding and distinguished career.
