Prolific real estate developer and a leading Democratic Party fundraiser, Bill Freeman has died . He was 73 years old.

Metro police spokesperson Don Aaron said they were called to Freeman's home Sunday night, where he was found dead. His death is being investigated as a suicide, Aaron said.

Freeman was chairman and co-founder of Freeman Webb Company , a multifamily real estate investment and management firm with over 18,000 rental homes and apartments across Tennessee, Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky and Alabama. More than 9,000 of those rental units are in the Nashville area.

Freeman also co-founded FW Publishing — parent company of the Nashville Scene, Nfocus Magazine, the Nashville Post and The News.

"Tonight, we lost Bill Freeman," Mayor Freddie O'Connell wrote Sunday night on X . "Bill was many things — real estate visionary, mayoral candidate, pilot, media magnate, staunch Democrat — and friend. Our city, state, and nation are better for his tenacity and commitment. We will miss him dearly, and my heart is with his family."

Here's what else to know about Freeman, a fixture in the Nashville community.

Who was Bill Freeman? What to know about Nashville business mogul, former mayoral candidate

Freeman co-founded Freeman Webb in 1979 after meeting Jimmy Webb at Nashville's Junior Chamber of Commerce, where both were members. According to the company website , their active involvement in community service allowed them to observe each other's commitment level and work ethic that ultimately became the catalyst for a business partnership.

As reported by the Tennessean, Freeman Webb is known for accepting low-income Section 8 subsidized federal housing vouchers, something which many landlords avoid.

"The bulk of our portfolio has an average rent of just over 1,000 dollars," Bob Freeman told The Tennessean. "We’re a naturally affordable landlord. We rent to the people who keep Nashville running."

According to the U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs , he served as director of Downtown Urban Development for the Metropolitan Nashville Development and Housing Agency (MDHA).

In 2015, Freeman ran for Mayor of Nashville, ultimately losing the race to former Mayor Megan Barry. According to Ballotpedia, Freeman's campaign ran on the following issues: neighborhood safety, community and diversity, veterans, pay equality and the environment.

Freeman also served on the Nashville Davidson County Mental Health and Veterans Assistance Foundation, the Reno Air Racing Association, the White House Historical Association, and the University of Tennessee President’s Council. In 2022 Freeman was appointed to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board by President Joe Biden.

Additionally, Freeman has served on the Kennedy Center Advisory Committee on the Arts appointed by former President Barack Obama and the Tennessee State University Board of Trustees appointed by former Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam.

Freeman, a pilot, also served on the Metro Nashville Airport Authority Board for eight years under three mayors before he stepped down in March .

"I recall the days when Nashville's airport was considered an efficient but small airport in a mid-sized, Southern city," said Freeman on his time overseeing Nashville International Airport's management. "Since its first days as Berry Field to its growth in the 1980s and to its major expansion goals today, the Nashville International Airport has become a record-breaking, major hub in our country's air transportation system."

Upon retiring, Freeman said he was "excited at the prospect of traveling more and enjoying our grandchildren as they grow" with his wife Babs.

Nashville mourns the death of Bill Freeman, 'an incredible force for good in our city.'

On Sunday the Tennessee Democratic Party shared a statement to X , remembering their former Treasurer as a "beacon of kindness, wisdom and a stalwart community leader."

"Bill was a generous soul who touched the lives of many," read the statement. "His warm spirit and ability to uplift those around him left an indelible mark on everyone fortunate enough to know him."

"Nashville lost one of its kindest and most dedicated champions," said Former Vice President and US. Representative Al Gore on Monday.

Gore called Freeman a "a giant in our city," someone who was known as much for his role in helping Nashville grow as he was for his "commitment to ensuring that all of its residents could thrive."

"Bill always sought out new ideas and knowledge in his pursuit of a better future for his community – one of the traits that made him such an important leader in our local media landscape," said Gore on social media.

On Monday, Davidson County Register of Deeds Karen Johnson shared that few have had the impact on Nashville that Freeman had, describing him as a smart, well-grounded businessman and a "giant" among civic-minded leaders.

"I called on Bill for his counsel many times, but more than anything, I valued his friendship." she said in a statement. "Prayers go tonight to Babs, to Rep. Bob Freeman, and all of Bill’s loved ones. This loss leaves a terrible void.”

District Attorney Glenn Funk called Freeman a friend to all of Nashville in a statement, remembering him as someone who worked to give the working people of the Nashville community better living standards, from housing to wages.

"We are a better city because of Bill Freeman," said Funk on Monday.

Former Nashville Mayor Megan Barry referred to Freeman as "incredible force for good" for both Nashville and Democrats at the national, state and local levels.

"His commitment to help others ran deep, and was evident in his love for his family and his willingness to step up and serve Nashville," she wrote to X on Monday.

State Senator Heidi Campbell shared the same sentiment.

"Love and condolences to the whole family- it's a true loss for Nashville and for Tennessee," she wrote on X.

Metro Council Member Olivia Hill described Freeman's death as "a profound loss for Nashville," and shared that Freeman was more than a successful businessman, he was a "leader who gave selflessly" to the Nashville community.

"His dedication to philanthropy and commitment to justice set an example for all of us," she wrote on X. "Bill’s legacy will live on in the countless lives he touched and the progress he helped drive in our city."