Stephen Freel, Duval Co., FL l Bios

Stephen Freel

Stephen Freel was one of the founders of the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, FL. He was inducted into the Gator Bowl Hall of Fame on September 18, 1989. He was the original Public Relations salesperson for the new event and the first chairman of the Gator Bowl membership drive.

He hailed from Brooklyn, New York where he was born on January 24, 1897. He was baptized in the Transfiguration Catholic Church of Brookly, NY on March 01, 1897.

He was also the owner and president of the Jacksonville Tars baseball club of the South Atlantic League. The Tars became the Braves under new ownership in 1953, then became the Suns in 1962.

Stephen was active in boxing in the 1940's.

He was a member of St. Matthews Catholic Church. He died September 28,, 1967 in Jacksonville, Fl. and is buried in Oaklawn Cemetery in Jacksonville.

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