Background
Freeman was born on September 6, 1920 in Pasadena, the son of Robert Freeman, a Presbyterian minister, and Margery Fulton, professor of religion.
Freeman was born on September 6, 1920 in Pasadena, the son of Robert Freeman, a Presbyterian minister, and Margery Fulton, professor of religion.
In 1938 he graduated from Pasadena JC and in 1942 got his Bachelor of Arts at Pomona College. He entered Harvard Medical School in 1942 and completed its accelerated war-time curriculum in 1945.
During his teenage years Freeman demonstrated exceptional ability in tennis, table tennis, and, particularly, badminton. From early in 1939, at the age of eighteen, through his final tournament match fourteen years later, Freeman was undefeated in badminton singles competition. After apparently retiring from badminton in 1950 to concentrate on a career in neurosurgery, Freeman made a brief comeback in 1953.
He is the only American born male to be inducted into both the United States. and World Badminton Halls of Fame.
Freeman"s racket sport exploits were not limited to badminton.