Dick Freeland, 76, chairman of the board of Pizza Hut of Fort Wayne Inc., died at home Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013.

A native of Nevada, Mo., he was born March 16, 1937, to the Rev. Fred and Helen Freeland. In 1957 he married Deanna Walters, who survives, and they had three children – Kim (Alan) Cook, Terri Derheimer
(deceased) and Todd (Angie) Freeland.

In 1972, Freeland opened his first Pizza Hut on East State near Coliseum Boulevard in Fort Wayne. The business grew to include 48 Pizza Huts in Indiana and Ohio – including the Syracuse location – and four KFC restaurants. In 1995, Freeland traveled to Poland to advise the Pizza Hut team on improving their operations. He later became a partner in the Pizza Hut and KFC business in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Freeland was heavily involved in local, state and national politics. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling and breeding Arabian horses. In February 2013 he was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash by Gov. Mike Pence, and Ducks Unlimited named him Conservationist of the Year. He served on numerous boards of directors and was instrumental in the founding of The Chapel.