Coach Walter Yates

Walter Yates, Sr. was born on July 6, 1940 to Douglas Yates and Girty Edwards Yates in Shepherd Texas. He and his family moved to Houston, Tx. when he was 7 years old where he attended Bruce Elementary, E.O Smith Junior High and later Phillips Wheatley High School where he was a 1960 graduate. He was a three year varsity basketball letter winner at Wheatley, playing for the legendary Colin Briggs, winning three state championships. He earned a full athletic scholarship to attend Pan American College, where they won the 1953 NAIA National Championship, and were National Runner up in 1964.

Upon graduation, he was hired as in assistant coach at his alma mater, Pan American College, and in 1966 was hired to teach and coach at E.O Smith Junior High, in the Houston Independent School District as an assistant to the legendary Frankie Brazos. In 1968, he integrated HISD, by becoming the first black head coach at a then predominately white school. He coached at Davis for 17 years, before taking over the head coaching duties at Madison High School, in 1985. In 1996, he was drawn back to the north side of town, and the Fifth Ward Community to teach and coach at Kashmere High School, until his retirement in 2007.

 

Coach Yates won 997 games in his 42 years as a head coach (997-326), however, more importantly to him, was the countless number of lives that he touched in a positive manner along the way, as a mentor and father figure to the many young men that has neither in their lives.

 

He accepted Christ at an early age, and in 1976 joined the Yale Street Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late John T. Holcomb, Sr., where he serves as a Deacon for more 30 years until he could no longer serve due to illness.

 

Walter was preceded in death by his parents Douglas and Girty Yates, sisters Leola Adams, and Ann Yates-Jordan, brothers Guy Yates, Harold Yates, and Samuel Yates. He leaves to cherish his memories, his loving and devoted wife of 54 years, Mary Louise Yates, daughter Alisa Yates Boutte, son Walter Yates Jr., and adopted son Calvin Rice Sr. He also leaves two brothers Lee Otis Yates (Inez), David Yates (Carolyn) and one sister Gwen Ray (Ron) eight grandchildren, two great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and great friends.