Frederick S. Cates Jr.

Former Hillsborough, NC mayor, Frederick Strudwick Cates, Jr., passed away August 22, 2010, surrounded by his loving family.
Mr. Cates, a seventh-generation resident of Orange County, was born in Hillsborough, NC on January 16, 1927. His parents were Frederick Strudwick Cates, Sr, and his wife Virginia Riley Cates originally from Keytesville, Missouri. Elizabeth "Lib" Thomas Cates, formerly of Carthage, predeceased him in death in 2006.
The Frederick S. Cates, Sr. family had been engaged in farming and business in Hillsborough for several generations. Fred Cates, Jr. was the third child of four born to Frederick and Virginia. He was affectionately called "Boy" throughout his childhood and to this day his nieces and nephews call him "Uncle Boy." He was educated in the Hillsborough school system graduating from Hillsborough High School. Mr. Cates entered Clemson University as a pre-engineering student. While at Clemson, he was a member of the Army Specialized Training Program. He was called to duty and became an Army Corporal stationed on Kwajalein Island during World War II, serving as an Army airplane mechanic. When his duty was completed, he was honorably discharged earning a Victory Medal. After returning to Hillsborough, he enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Business Administration. While he was attending UNC,he met and fell in love with his wife Elizabeth Taylor Thomas, of Carthage, on the steps of Spencer dormitory. He often said that when he met Elizabeth,"this is when my life began."
After graduating from Carolina, Mr. Cates married his beloved "Lib" and they lived in Hillsborough, where he operated family businesses, the Gem Theater in West Hillsborough and the Hickory House Restaurant in town while Lib taught history at Aycock High School in Cedar Grove. They lived in a small farm house he remodeled on the Cates family farm which is now the Occoneechee Mountain State Park. He often remarked on the beauty of the mountain laurel and rhododendron that blooms in the spring. His father owned the mountain and farmland, and he remembered it well from when he was a young boy. Fred started building houses and became a successful developer winning a contract to build post office buildings throughout the state. He was able to purchase back the home his father had built in Hillsborough which had been sold to the town doctor. He and Lib reared five daughters there.
While raising his family, he became involved in government and the community. His father instilled in him the importance of voting and becoming an effective public servant. As a lifelong democrat, he held virtually every office in the Democratic Party from the precinct level to membership on the North Carolina Democratic Executive Committee. He was past-president of the Orange County YDC and because of his service, he was a nominee for the Outstanding Young Democrat of North Carolina in 1960. Mr. Cates continued to be an active member in the Orange County Democratic Party serving as the campaign manager for John F. Kennedy in Orange County. Governor Dan K. Moore appointed Mr. Cates to the North Carolina Prison Commission in 1965. He served on that board until he was elected Mayor of Hillsborough in May of 1967. He served Hillsborough for 16 years.
While serving as Mayor, his tenure was marked by extensive upgrading and expansion of utilities and services to the town and county. He and his staff
executed bids to construct a new Water Treatment Plant and the first Waste Water Treatment facility. Prior to this action, effluents were dumped in the Eno River. In addition, the salaries of police officers were doubled, modern traffic signals were installed, a new fire station was built, many roads were paved, and a free municipal parking lot was constructed.
Another accomplishment of his administration was the renovation of the historic Ruffin-Roulhac home to be used as the town hall. He and Mrs. Cates traveled to New York and personally negotiated with the Roulhac family to secure the option for the property, then submitted the idea to H.U.D. to secure the funding to purchase and restore the property as a municipal building. These improvements were brought about with no increase in the tax rate. In fact, in June of 1971, the tax was cut by five percent.
Because of the foresight of the Cates administration, many jobs were added by new industries coming to town. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cates were active promoters for the town of Hillsborough and its historic value and legacy.
During this time in his life, Mr. Cates was an active member of the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church where he served as a Sunday School Superintendent, teacher and deacon. He served as President of the Cameron Park School P.T.A. He was President of the Lions Club and later served as a Director. He was a scoutmaster and was active in fund raising drives for numerous causes. One of the joys of his life was teaching his five daughters how to ride and the meaning of true horsemanship. He would train the horses and school his daughters taking them to different horse shows throughout North Carolina and Virginia. They all would rise at the crack of dawn to prepare their horses, load them up, and take off to the next show or fox hunt. Once all of their daughters were educated and on their own, Mr. and Mrs. Cates enjoyed boating and travel. In their Hatteras sport fishing boat, they cruised the intercoastal waterway and traveled to Marathon Key in Florida. They would meet up with special friends and explore the different Caribbean islands. Living on their boat, snorkeling for lobster, they would fish and grill their catch right on board. They met friends everywhere they traveled and stayed in touch often meeting up somewhere on a boat with the insatiable appetite forexploring another reef, another island.
Five daughters, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren survive: his daughters, Elizabeth "Betsy" C. Yancey of Monroe, GA, Dianne Cates Egger and her husband, John, of Hillsborough, Sarah C. Hale, Mary C. Gravley and her husband, Jeff, and Julie C. Henry and her husband, Mark, all of Cary; his grandchildren, Julie Cox Wright and her husband, Scott and Robert Thomas Cox Jr. and his fiancee, Jenny Sims all of Monroe, GA, Chase Frederick Strudwick Cates III, Taylor Lee Cates and Sterling Strudwick Cates, all of Hillsborough, Carey Anne and Sally Elizabeth Henry, and Megan Cates Gravley, all of Cary; Andrew Sullivan Poludniak of Pensacola FL; and his great-grandchildren, Cameron Scott Wright and Caroline Riley Wright of Monroe, GA.
Mr. Cates also is survived by his brother, John Allen Cates and his wife, Anne of Chapel Hill; his brother-in-law, William R. Bartow of Alexandria, VA and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
The family will receive visitors Thursday, August 26, 2010 at their home at 112 West Union Street, Hillsborough, NC.
The church services will be held on Friday, August 27, 2010 at the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church at 11:00 a.m. Following lunch in Strudwick Hall, interment will be in the Hillsborough Town Cemetery.
Condolences can be expressed at www.CremationSocietyNC.com
Donations may be made to the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, 102 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough, NC.