Sharing is Caring, Episode 2: Gilbert Freeman on Golf, Grief, and Giving Back
In this powerful second episode of Sharing is Caring, host Fritz Deichert sits down with Gilbert Freeman, a local legend in the Dallas golf community who served as the head golf professional at Lakewood Country Club for over 26 years.
Gilbert shares his fascinating and unconventional journey into the world of golf, which began unexpectedly during summers in Mexico with his father, a renowned butterfly collector. He walks us through his extensive career, the creation of the prestigious Byron Nelson Junior golf tournament, and what it was like to build a life and a family around the game he loves.
The conversation then takes a deeply personal turn as Gilbert speaks with incredible courage and vulnerability about his family's journey with substance use disorder. He opens up about the tragic loss of his two youngest sons, Hunt and Jack, to heroin overdoses. In a discussion filled with honesty and raw emotion, Gilbert reflects on the lessons learned, the power of addiction, and the importance of having open conversations to break the stigma.
Don't miss this moving story of love, loss, and turning unimaginable pain into a powerful purpose by supporting others on their path to recovery.