The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Board of Directors has confirmed Gerald Freeny as president for the 2018-19 Tournament of Roses year. Freeny, the first African American elected to the position, will provide leadership for the 130th Rose Parade presented by Honda and the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual on January 1, 2019.

Freeny announced ‘The Melody of Life’ as the Pasadena Tournament of Roses theme to encourage creativity in float entries, marching bands and equestrian participants.

“The 2019 theme, ‘The Melody of Life,’ celebrates music, the universal language,” said Freeny. “Music has the power to not only bring us together but take us back to memories and moments as nothing else can. Rhythm, melody, harmony and color all come together to create the soundtrack that defines our lives.”

Freeny has been a volunteer member of the Tournament of Roses Association since 1988. In addition to his many years of service in the Tournament of Roses, his community involvement has included; president of the San Gabriel chapter of NOBLE (National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives), the Pasadena Police Foundation Board, Pasadena Police Citizens Academy, Pasadena Rose Bowl Aquatics Board, University Club, Pasadena YMCA Board, Black Support Group at Cal State LA, Urban League Board of Governors, United Way Fundraising Committee, Toast Masters and the Pasadena NAACP. Freeny has been on the Advisory Board of the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation since 2016, and is also a member of Legacy’s Museum Committee.

He attended Pasadena Christian School and John Muir High School in Pasadena, and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from California State University, Los Angeles. Freeny is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi and Gamma Zeta Boulé of Sigma Pi Phi fraternities and First Historic Lutheran Church.

Gerald resides in Altadena with his wife, Trina, and their daughter, Erica.