William H. "Bert" Bates

1926 - 2022

William H. "Bert" Bates
April 14, 1926 - October 20, 2022
Kansas City, Missouri - William Hubert Bates, known to all as "Bert," died peacefully on October 20, 2022. Bert was born April 14, 1926 in Lexington, Missouri to George Hubert and Norma Comer Bates and moved at a young age to Jefferson City, Missouri. Bert was a proud Jefferson City "Jay," graduating from high school in 1944 after excelling as a student, class officer, football and basketball player, oboist in the band and orchestra and vocalist in the choir. Other youthful pursuits included becoming an Eagle Scout, a Sea Scout, and Master Counselor of DeMolay. Very soon after graduation he entered the U.S. Army, trained at Fort Hood, Texas and served his country in World War II. A member of the Second Infantry Division, he marched across Europe with his unit, reaching the furthest East point of the U.S. forces and arriving in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia as hostilities ceased in May 1945. After his military service Bert enrolled at the University of Missouri in Columbia in the fall of 1946 and remained actively engaged with the school his entire life. At Mizzou, Bert participated in numerous campus activities, served as an officer of his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi and graduated, Phi Beta Kappa, in June 1949. Bert then entered the University of Michigan Law School, on scholarship, became a Senior Editor of the Law Review and graduated, Juris Doctor, in the spring of 1952. After assisting with his father's successful campaign for Missouri State Treasurer, Bert moved to Kansas City to commence a legal career at the distinguished law firm now known as Lathrop GPM, where Bert practiced law for 70 years successively as an associate, partner, member of the managing partners committee, chairman of the firm, Of Counsel, and Senior Counselor.
On October 20, 1956, Bert succeeded in taking what he considered his life's finest and most important step, marrying the beautiful, gracious Joy Godbehere. Bert and Joy became lifelong companions, soul mates, and helpmates. Two children, Bill and Joy Ann, were born of their union and reared lovingly. Throughout his dedicated and distinguished legal career, Bert also extended himself as a volunteer in many civic, charitable, professional, and political activities and organizations. These included: Member and President of the Board of Curators of the University of Missouri; President and Board of Governors Member, The Missouri Bar; Chairman, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce (also Board member and Legal Counsel nearly 30 years); President, The Missouri Chamber of Commerce; Chairman, The Hawthorne Foundation (under two Governors); Chairman, Lawyers Encouraging Academic Excellence Foundation; Chair, (15 years) Board of Trustees, Central United Methodist Church; and Legal Counsel and Secretary, Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City. Bert's participation has been recognized with awards including, among others, six different awards from the University of Missouri, including a Doctor of Laws Honoris Causa; Missouri Bar Pro Bono Award; The Charles Evans Whittaker Outstanding Service Award of the Lawyer's Association of Kansas City; The Brotherhood Award of the National Conference of Christians and Jews; The YMCA Distinguished Service Award; The Rotary Outstanding Citizen Award; Membership in the Missouri Academy of Squires; Honorary Colonel Designation by four Missouri Governors; Missouri Lawyers Media ICON Award; and the Oxford Cup and the Francis W. Shepardson Award, premier awards of the National Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. For his service as general chairman to raise the money to endow the Men of Principle program for Beta, Bert was recognized, along with the honorary Chairman, Senator Richard H. Lugar, by having the road leading to the national headquarters building named the "Lugar-Bates Drive."
Bert Bates was a committed Christian, devout Methodist, and music lover. He was also an enthusiastic fan of the Michigan Wolverines, Missouri Tigers, and Kansas City Royals and Chiefs. He never met a stranger and genuinely embraced his relationship with all whom he encountered. His ready handshake, wide smile, hearty laugh, and captivating stories were trademarks. Bert's family and friends will remember hundreds of great experiences shared along his remarkable life's journey.
He was predeceased by his wife, father and mother, his older brother, Dr. George Comer Bates and wife Ida May Bates, and his older sister Norma Elizabeth Spencer and her husband William L. Spencer. Surviving are his children and their families: daughter Joy Ann Bates Boyle and husband Paul J. Boyle; son William Brand Bates and his children, Braden Tomlinson Bates, Brittan Elizabeth Bates, and William Tucker Bates, and their mother, Lynette Koester; and nieces, nephews, and their families: Elizabeth Maring Berry, Kathryn Comer Bates, Brian Comer Bates, Lawrence Lohman Bates, and William Leonard Spencer, Jr.
A memorial service will be held at The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Brookside at Historic Central (formerly Central United Methodist Church) 5144 Oak Street, in Kansas City on November 19, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. with a reception following. In lieu of flowers the family suggests as recipients of any donations: "The W.H. 'Bert' Bates Oxford Cup Scholarship Fund" at Beta Theta Pi Foundation, 5134 Bonham Road, Oxford, Ohio 45056; the "W.H. 'Bert' Bates Scholarship Fund" at Zeta Phi Society Foundation, Inc., 39 Berkshire Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63117 (supporting undergraduate Betas at Mizzou); or, The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, 5144 Oak Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64112. Contributions to the church in his memory will support its music program, in recognition of Bert's great love of music and his participation in the church choir since 1952.