Earl Freudenberg has joined the Chattanooga Funeral Home team. Mr. Freudenberg retired in 2016 after 55 years in broadcasting. He is known around town as “Hey Earl.” Beginning in 1962, Mr. Freudenberg worked for radio stations WAPO, WDOD and WDEF in Chattanooga. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army and was stationed in Frankfurt, West Germany as an announcer at the American Forces Network Europe. Tennessee broadcasters gave Mr. Freudenberg the Associated Press Broadcaster of the Year award in 1981.
He has been inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Journalism Hall of Fame and the Tri-State Gospel Music Hall of Fame.
Mr. Freudenberg is a native Chattanoogan and knows the community well. He was educated in Hamilton County Schools and attended the University of Chattanooga. He is married to the former Julie Brown, of Red Bank. They have two children, Amy and Mark, and two granddaughters, Rachel and Juliana.
Mr. Freudenberg is involved in the community, Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Vietnam Veterans Chattanooga Chapter, Chattanooga Area Veterans Council, and an active member of Calvary Bible Church in Chattanooga. He served on both the Armed Forces Week Committee and Police and Fire Department’s Forgotten Child Fund for over 30 years.
Mr. Freudenberg said, “Since my retirement, I’ve wanted to do something productive to help people. Having spent half of my career hosting a talk show, I feel I’m a good listener and my broadcasting skills can be applied in this new job in a positive fashion.”
Vice President Stephen Pike said, “We are honored that Earl is now a part of the Chattanooga Funeral Home family.”
President Eugene Pike stated, “Earl has been heavily involved in our community and he is a legend in the Chattanooga area, serving Chattanooga for over 50 years in broadcasting.”