In Loving Memory — Kevin J. Freeman 1941-2023
The equestrian world lost one of its most distinguished luminaries March 10, as three-time Olympian Kevin J Freeman passed away peacefully at the age of 81, surrounded by his loving family. Born in 1941 and raised in Portland, OR, Kevin spent many of his summers at his parent’s farm in Molalla. He attended St. Thomas More Catholic School in Portland and then graduated from Lincoln High School, where he met his future wife, Barrie Hallinan. He went on to earn his undergraduate degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY and his MBA from Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.
Kevin and Barrie, who were best friends in high school, eventually married and raised their three sons (Eric, Peter and Kevin) and daughter (Wendy) at their Portland home, Clodomir Farm. Kevin represented the United States at three Olympic Games and the Pan American Games and was also a successful businessman and coach and mentor to equestrians around the world. Kevin’s many storied equestrian accomplishments include winning a gold medal as part of the U.S. team that competed at the 1963 Pan American Games in São Paulo, Brazil, where he won an individual silver medal. He helped the U.S. team win silver medals in the 1964, 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games and in 1964, he was the U.S. National Three-Day Event Champion and won the Olympic Trials in Gladstone, New Jersey. Kevin capped off his American contingent to a team silver as the highest-placed U.S. rider. He had one of only three clear rounds (no faults) in the treacherous cross-country phase, riding one of his longtime equine partners, Good Mixture.
When not competing, you’d often find him coaching students, whom he carefully guided through their equestrian careers. Kevin delighted in sharing his knowledge with the hundreds of horses and riders he trained over the last 50 years at Clodomir Farm. When he wasn’t riding, you could find Freeman schussing the slopes of Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor and feeding his voracious appetite for reading. Kevin was never one too boost, but he is achievements didn’t go unnoticed. He was inducted in the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1991 and into the USEA Hall of Fame in 2009 along with his 1972 Olympic mount, Good Mixture.
Kevin’s love of family also was apparent in his highly successful business career, as he worked closely with his father, Percy, and his two brothers, Michael and Perk, to run J.A. Freeman and Son, a farm-implement manufacturing company that was based out of Portland for more than 100 years. Kevin and his two brothers continued working together, creating the Freeman Group, a commercial real estate company that he helped run until his death.
Kevin’s loss will be deeply felt by his family, who’ll lovingly remember him including his wife, Barrie; his four children, Eric Freeman (and wife Stephanie) of Portland; Peter Freeman (and wife Anna) of Beaverton; Kevin of Christchurch, Barbados; and Wendy Freeman Gallo (and husband Edgar) of Montgomery, Texas; his brother Perk Freeman; sister Laurie Freeman; and his six grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Kevin was preceded in death by his brother Michael Freeman and his parents, Percy and Rosemary O’Donnell Freeman of Portland.