Inspiration Award
Dr. Thomas F. Freeman
Distinguished Professor, Interim Founding Dean of the new Honors College
and Debate Team coach for 60 years
In 1949, a young professor and Baptist minister by the name of Dr. Thomas F. Freeman was invited to Texas State University for Negroes as a visiting professor. The two-year old institution wanted to determine if an instructor trained in religion would fit well with the faculty. Today, Texas State is Texas Southern and Dr. Thomas Freeman is its most distinguished scholar.
During his first year on campus, Dr. Freeman organized the Texas Southern University Debate Team which has gone on to capture hundreds of awards both domestically and internationally. Over the past six decades, he has also served as Chair of the Department of Philosophy, Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and as the Director of the TSU Weekend College.
Dr. Freeman has also held countless memberships and leadership roles in a myriad of professional and community organizations. Today, as Director of the Frederick Douglass Institute Honors Program, Distinguished Professor of Forensics and Head Coach of the world renowned Texas Southern University Debate Team, Dr. Freeman shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to lead Texas Southern University on its path of excellence.
Revelation Award
Yolanda Adams
GRAMMY Award winning vocalist, TSU Alumna and former Debate Team member
As a student at Texas Southern University, gospel superstar Yolanda Adams participated on the Debate Team under the guidance of Dr. Thomas F. Freeman. Following her 1984 graduation from TSU, Adams eventually went on to lift her voice in song, becoming an accomplished recording artist who has inspired millions.
Since her debut album, Just as I Am, appeared in 1988, Adams has triumphantly carried the torch for contemporary gospel and inspirational music. The cornerstone of her amazing career was the 1999 platinum, GRAMMY Award-winning Mountain High Valley Low, which established her as an undisputed gospel star one of the key figures of the genre's bold renaissance.
Blessed with one of the most powerful voices in any genre of music, this native Houstonian and one-time school teacher has earned numerous awards, including the first American Music Award for Contemporary Gospel Artist and four National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences GRAMMY® Awards as well as numerous honors from the Dove Awards, Stellar Awards, NAACP Image Awards, Soul Train Music Award, BET Awards and Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.
This gifted graduate of TSU’s communications program now also hosts the “Yolanda Adams Morning Show,” which airs on urban gospel stations owned by Radio One nationwide.
This evening, Texas Southern University awards alumna Yolanda Adams with the TSU Honors Revelation Award in recognition not only of her stellar talent and accomplishments, but also for her ability to so powerfully personify the excellence that Dr. Freeman has spent sixty years cultivating in his students.
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