Clemson loses a treasured family member

Aug 8, 2017, 8:13 PM

Edwin Armistead Freeman of Clemson, SC, passed away on August 7, 2017. A Professor Emeritus of Music at Clemson University (1969-1996), Ed's musicianship touched the lives of many students and colleagues through his teaching, composing, and performing. Over the years he wrote many musical arrangements for the Clemson Tiger Band, including "Eye of the Tiger," still played regularly for Clemson fans during football games. He is the son of the late Edwin Jones Freeman who started the Industrial Engineering program at Clemson University and for whom Freeman Hall is named. His father wrote the first official fight song for the Clemson football team - "Tiger Rah" - and Ed's arrangement of that original song is also played in Death Valley at every home game.

Having grown up in Clemson in a family of musicians and engineers, Ed was an ROTC graduate of Clemson in Civil Engineering (1949), an Army Veteran of the Korean War (1952-1953), a graduate of Columbia University (Masters in Music 1968), and a graduate of LSU (Doctorate of Musical Arts 1976). He diligently pursued a music career and in 1954 at age 26 he won first place in the Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) North American competition of composers (including Canada, USA, and Mexico) for his original composition for orchestra. He had truly found his calling. He had an angelic touch on the piano and bass, and his love and appreciation for classical music were felt by his students for many years in his teaching at Clemson. He served a very special musical mission introducing classical music to Clemson football players who enrolled in large numbers in his classes, all a tribute to his passion for both music and Clemson football, and his long Clemson history. In his later years he enjoyed playing the upright bass in both the Clemson University Orchestra and the legendary Clemson Tiger Jazz Band known as the Jungaleers.

A loving husband and father, and beloved by all who knew him in the Clemson community of old timers, he is survived by his wife of 53 years, Regina, son Louis, daughter Mina Hinson and son-in-law Steve Hinson, brother Louis Starr Freeman, nephews Ross and David Freeman, and great nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at Clemson University.

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Clemson loses a treasured family member

Re: Clemson loses a treasured family member

Fine Tribute EZ..

Re: Clemson loses a treasured family member

Yes, Clemson did.***

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