The Historian and the Businessman

McNeese & Freeman Recognized at Annual Chamber Banquet

York College faculty member Dr. Tim McNeese and York businessman and college benefactor Don Freeman Jr. were recognized at the 2018 Chamber Banquet, held on January 16. Each has made a deep impact on the college and community, and were lauded for the many ways they have contributed to the success of both.

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Focus on York 

McNeese was recognized by the Chamber with the Focus on York Award. This award is not given on an annual basis but rather only occasionally as warranted. The criteria for the award is for the recipient to bring positive statewide and national attention to the York community.

McNeese is in his 26th year as an associate professor of history at York College. A writer on historical topics, McNeese has authored more than 120 books for children, middle-grade, high school, and college readers, on everything from The Great Wall of China to landmark Supreme Court decisions. His writing has earned him a citation in the library reference work Contemporary Authors. He has appeared on several cable television programs as an historical expert and was recently featured on a documentary on General Pershing, which aired on NET Television.

Since the opening of the Clayton Museum of Ancient History at York College in 2015, more than 10,000 people have visited York to view the collection, participate in classes and attend special events and lectures. Dr. McNeese serves on the advisory board of the museum, providing valuable insight and leadership for this community resource. He has also been involved in planning special events and was the featured speaker at last year’s Ides of March dinner. ​

D. Mark Moore Entrepreneurial Spirit

Freeman was recognized with the  D. Mark Moore Entrepreneurial Spirit award. The award, presented by the York College Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) Chapter and the York Chamber of Commerce, was established to recognize a York area business person from among chamber member businesses who has demonstrated one or more of the core characteristics of the entrepreneurial spirit: innovation, courage, commitment and service.

The PBL officers and award selection committee were led by chapter president Hannah Parker, who presented the award to Freeman. Parker reflected on the legacy of Dr. Moore, a business faculty member who passed away in 2015, and spoke about Freeman’s notable career achievements.

Freeman is a longtime York resident and member of the business community. He started working at his family’s business, York Foundry and Engine Works, as a young man in the 1950s and assumed ownership in 1965. He sold the business a few years later, but continued to manage the company, overseeing agricultural projects in Canada, Mexico and Venezuela. Since 1985, he has owned Agri-Products, which manufactures farm implements. They provide a number of services to local industries including fabricating large hoppers for Cyclonaire; a conveyor for Kopchos cardboard recycling; steel hoppers for C-Tech; conveyors for Beaver Creek Industries and York Cold Storage; and tool bars for Plains Power.​

Don Freeman, owner of York Agri-Products, with students (l-r): Deborah Kurtzer, Hannah Parker, Kevin Olmstead, Leiah Reichl, and Sabrina Austin.


**Photos and some text courtesy of the York News-Times. Credit to photographers Steve Moseley and Steph Peyatt.