Captain Lou Freeman: A Trailblazer and an Inspiration

By Daniel Ford

There are a few people in this world who make it their duty to break barriers. Captain Lou Freeman is one of those people. Lou spent much of his childhood in Dallas, Texas, and was one of the first Black students to integrate a previously all-white high school. As a child, this was not something Lou wanted to do, but it ended up benefiting him later in life through the new experiences he was exposed to.

He went on to attend East Texas State University, where he was part of the Air Force ROTC. It was here that Lou realized for the first time that he wanted to be a pilot. He took the Air Force AFOQT Test and scored very well in almost all parts of the exam, except for the pilot portion. In the 1970s, it was uncommon to see Black pilots, so Lou had never considered it a possibility. However, after seeing his score, he was motivated to improve on that portion of the AFOQT. That motivation led him to pursue flying as a career, eventually joining the Air Force, where he had a very successful career. Lou said he never had any doubts once he set his mind to becoming a pilot. He had no plan B and refused to fail.

Lou’s passion for flying eventually led him to Southwest Airlines. He was concerned that as he advanced in the Air Force, he would spend less time in the cockpit and more time on the ground. Lou became the first Black pilot for Southwest and the first Black chief pilot for any major U.S. airline. Although his role as chief pilot at Chicago Midway Airport often kept him in the office, Lou consistently picked up flights, flying more than any other chief pilot at Southwest simply because he loved it.

Lou’s favorite memory from his career was flying Rosa Parks’ remains and her family and friends to Montgomery, Alabama. He brought his own family along so they could appreciate the sacrifices others made for them. Upon departing Montgomery, Lou circled the city and then rocked the wings as a wave goodbye, thanking everyone in Montgomery and the trailblazers who came before him.

Lou retired from Southwest Airlines in 2017 but never stopped being a positive influence in the aviation world. His desire to share his experiences with youth continues to inspire him today. Growing up in the 1960s, Lou had to overcome many obstacles to achieve what he did. With no one to turn to for advice during his youth, he now takes it upon himself to be that voice for young people. Lou feels blessed to have accomplished everything he did, and now he helps others realize their dreams by working with Tuskegee NEXT. Tuskegee NEXT helps underrepresented youth earn their Private Pilot’s License and Drone License at no cost to them. Lou wants to show adolescents, who may have never considered aviation as a possibility, that they can achieve anything they set their minds to.

The life of Captain Lou Freeman shows us that anything is possible. Barriers can be broken, and anything can be achieved with hard work. Lou continues to inspire pilots in training and the flight instructors at Lewis University, where he is currently the Executive Director of Flight Operations. He is admired by everyone at Lewis and continues to help the next generation of pilots take the next step in their careers.