Dick Gates

Richard H. Gates


Born:
October 24, 1930
Waterloo, IA

Died:
December 16, 2016
Livonia, MI


Career
1950-51 Waterloo Rockets (Independent)
1950-51 Kansas City Hi-Spots (NPBL)

A high school athlete at Waterloo East High School (football and basketball), Gates played for a local independent team when the Kansas City Hi-Spots came to play the Waterloo team on January 14, 1951. Short of players, the Hi-Spots looked to local players (Gates, along with Leerah, Clayton Bristow and Gene Peterson) to fill in. In this one game, Gates did not score. He also played a lot of semi-pro football around Waterloo.

Gates would go on to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, but stayed stationed in Japan, Gates later worked at Deere and moved to Southeastern Michigan.

He and his wife, Ellen, had three children.




Source:
Correspondence with family member, August 2017
http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Richard-Gates&lc=6785&pid=183110578&mid=7212540

Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=gatesdi01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/dick-gates/