John L. Bates, Jr.

JOHN L. BATES, JR. COL. RET. September 20, 1921-August 31, 2005 John L. Bates, Jr., 83, passed away on Wednesday, August 31, 2005. Visitation will be Monday, September 5 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Lee Lockwood Library and Museum. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 6, at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church with graveside services following at Oakwood Cemetery. The services will be conducted by fellow Masonic Lodge members and Dr. Ed Carter with full military honors being provided by a detachment from Ft. Hood. .. Mr. Bates, a descendent of Coryell County pioneers, was born on September 20, 1921, in Gatesville, Texas to John L. Bates, Sr. and Susie May Moore Bates. He graduated from Mexia High School in 1938 and subsequently enrolled in Baylor University where he received his BBA and LLB in 1947 after having served in WWII. Mr. Bates was later awarded the Juris Doctor Degree from Baylor. During his Baylor years, he was a member of the Baylor Chamber of Commerce, the Nose Noze Brotherhood, the Esquire Club, Baylor Theater, Alpha Psi Omega a national dramatic fraternity, A cappella Choir, and Forum Law Society. From 1947-1950, he was an instructor of Business Law at Baylor. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Baylor-Waco Foundation and a Life Member of the Baylor Alumni Association. In August, 1942, while in Baylor, he enlisted in the Army Reserve. In May, 1943, he was called to active duty. Following basic training in Texas, he was deployed to Camp Roberts, California where he attained the rank of staff sergeant. In 1944 he attended Infantry Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, Georgia and received a commission as 2nd Lieutenant. He was called into the Counter-Intelligence Corps and was trained at a British Intelligence School in Karachi, India, and was first assigned to the 412th CIC, China, Burma, India, and then to the 415th CIC detachment out of Kunming, China where he became the Special Agent. Later, he was detailed to JAG War Crimes on Formosa where he added the duties of Assistant Judge Advocate to his CIC Special Agent title. Mr. Bates retired from active duty in 1946 to reserve status in Military Intelligence. In 1947, he became a Company Commander of the 36th Texas National Guard Division. While in the Guard he attained the rank of Major and became an Adjutant. In 1962, he transferred to the Army Reserve and remained active until 1976 attaining the rank of Colonel. He remained in the Retired Army Reserve until 1981. He attended and subsequently taught in the Army Command and General Staff School, Logistics Management School, Infantry Career Course, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Among Col. Bates’ honors are the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Bronze Star, and the Meritorious Service Medal. Col. Bates was a member of the Reserve Officers Association, the Military Order of the World Wars, The MOAA, the National Counter-Intelligence Corps Association, the VFW, the American Legion, the Central Texas Basha, CBI Veterans, was a member of the Board of Governors of the Association of the U.S. Army AUSA Ft. Hood Chapter, and had served as a Civilian Advisor to the III Corps Commander of Ft. Hood. After having passed the Texas Bar Exam in 1946, he opened his law office in Waco where he has remained in practice for fifty-nine years until his death. He was a member of the Waco-McLennan County Bar Association where he served as secretary, a member of Waco Legal Aid where he served as a member of the board, and he held memberships in the State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association, and the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Court. He also served as a member of the Military Affairs Committee of the State Board of Texas. He was licensed to practice before all Texas State Courts, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, the U.S. Tax Court in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit. Mr. Bates was a 60 year member of Waco Masonic Lodge, No. 92, A.F. & A.M. and was Master in 1959. He received the Golden Trowel Award in 1994 and served as District Deputy Grand Master of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Texas. He was active in the Waco York Rite Bodies, Waco Scottish Rite, the Demolay Conclave Knights of the Red Cross of Constantine and a member of Karem Shrine Temple. He was the recipient of the Scottish Rite 33rd degree. He was active in the play “The Traitor”, playing the parts of both Lafayette and Benedict Arnold. He was a member of the R. E. “Bob” Scott Chapter of the National Sojourners and a member of the Heroes of ’76. Leadership positions in civic organizations include vice president of the Texas Jaycees, National Director from Texas to the National Jaycees, President of the Waco-McLennan County Society for Mental Health, Grand Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias, Board Member of the Waco Civic Theater where he appeared in numerous productions. He was a Patron of the Waco Symphony Association, the Art Center, the Waco Founders Lions Club, the Waco Chamber of Commerce, Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Waco Historic Foundation, and worked as a volunteer with SCORE. He was a long time member of the Republican Party of McLennan County and had served as Parliamentarian of the Executive Committee. In 1982, 1984, and 1986, he ran as the Republican candidate for the Texas Supreme Court, losing each time by narrow margins. He was a member of Ridgewood Country Club where he spent many enjoyable hours playing gin rummy, golf, and bridge. Mr. Bates was a long time member of the Frank Wilson Sunday School Class and an active member of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Jefferson Seth. He is survived by his wife of fifty-nine years, Dorothy Spencer Bates whom he married on August 31, 1946 in Waco. Children include Virginia and husband Byron Riddle of Lake Mexia; Barbara and husband David Brookreson of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Pat and husband John Rountree of Linden, Texas; and Linda and husband Brad Cates of Waco. Grandchildren include Katie Beth Riddle; Patrick and Michael Rountree; and Angie and Ally Cates. He is also survived by his aunt, Mrs. Lennart Allie Belle Larson of Houston, and numerous cousins. Honorary pallbearers are Spencer Brown, Claud Carter, Bob Claypool, Claude Ervin, Edgar Jablonowski, Fain Johnson, Fred Lee, Ray Leggett, William Matyastic, Tommy McWilliams, Sam Nay, and Pat Pattillo. Memorials may be made to the Scottish Rite Childrens Hospital in Dallas, Texas; Waco Baptist Academy; and the Frank Wilson Sunday School Class of the Columbus Avenue Baptist Church. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey