A.B. Freeman — Namesake of Tulane’s Freeman School of Business

Geoff Block earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Tulane University before beginning a career that included time as an executive at Crown Growth Partners. Today, along with serving as manager of holding company RLB Squared, LLC, Geoff Block supports his alma mater as a donor to Tulane’s Freeman School of Business.

Since 1984, Tulane’s business school has carried the name of Albert Bird Freeman. Better known as A.B., Mr. Freeman was a key figure in helping to popularize Coca-Cola as a bottled drink. His successful marketing efforts after joining the Louisiana Coca-Cola Bottling Co. in 1906 eventually led to him taking over leadership of the organization, which he proceeded to grow into the world’s largest bottling plant.

Mr. Freeman resigned his duties as president of the Louisiana Coca-Cola Bottling Co. in 1947 and went on to build a new career as a nationally recognized cattle rancher. He also became a leader at Tulane, serving as a member of the Board of Administrators.

In 1957, four years after becoming the board’s second vice president, Mr. Freeman, who also chaired the board’s finance committee, died following a heart attack. Keeping his memory alive, Tulane renamed the School of Business Administration in his honor after a donation from Mr. Freeman’s family.