INDIANAPOLIS – Senator Dan Coats today issued the following statement on the passing of Fort Wayne businessman and philanthropist Dick Freeland:

“Dick Freeland was a long-time friend. His journey from the steel mills to running the most successful Pizza Hut franchise in the country is a remarkable story. Dick’s success as an entrepreneur was exceeded only by his generosity and philanthropy. The number of people Dick anonymously helped is little known but made an incredible impact on many lives. He will be missed, and our thoughts and prayers go out to Deanna and the Freeland family.”