Robert Freeland Jr.

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Robert Linward Freeland Jr. (May 5, 1939[1] - June 24, 2022) was a businessman, public official, and state legislator in Indiana. A Democrat, he was elected to represent Lake County, Indiana, in 1973.[2] He lived in Gary, Indiana his entire life and served in the public sector for 60 years including as a city councilman and recorder as well as in the state house.[3] The Indiana State Library has a photograph of him.[4]

He was the son of Robert Linward Freeland Sr. and Mamie Mack.[3] He owned a lounge, liquor store, furniture store and Italian restaurant. He was a member of the NAACP, Urban League, Gary Police Commission, Northwest Indiana Planning Commission, and Gary Frontiers International Civic Club.[3] One of his early campaign flyers stated "My roots run deep in Gary and so does my concerns and commitment to Black People in this City."[3] He had two brother and a sister and had children.[3]

He was pardoned by U.S. President Bill Clinton in 1994 after a 1983 conviction for "forcible rescue of seized property."[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ A Century of Achievement; Black Hoosiers in the Indiana General Assembly, 1881-1986 by Alan Frank January and Justin E. Walsh (1986) page 48
  2. ^ "History of the IBLC". Indiana House Democratic Caucus.
  3. ^ a b c d e Staff, Crusader (July 21, 2022). "Memorial services scheduled for Robert "Bob" Freeland".
  4. ^ "Front". indianamemory.contentdm.oclc.org.
  5. ^ "Pardons Granted by President William J. Clinton (1993-2001)". www.justice.gov. January 12, 2015.