Marvin L. "Buzz" OATES

OATES, Marvin L. 'Buzz'
Marvin L. 'Buzz' Oates, a well-known and respected pioneer of Sacramento's commercial real estate industry, as well as a quiet philanthropist, loving father, business partner and friend to many, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family, on December 7, 2013. He was ninety years old.

Born on July 25, 1923, and raised in very humble beginnings in Sacramento, Buzz seized opportunity early on by selling newspapers and Christmas cards, collecting bottles and mowing lawns for 50 cents. In those days, he jumped the fence to attend the fair, never dreaming that, years later, he'd own the fairgrounds and donate them to UC Davis Medical Center.

At the young age of 13, while attending a Sunday evening church service with his family, Buzz Oates invited Jesus Christ to be his Lord and Savior. It was a decision that was to affect him throughout his life and established a conviction for the way he would later conduct business.

Buzz's determination for business flourished into high school when he caught the bus after school for work, where he made 75 cents a day. Saving his wages, he purchased his first car, a 1936 Plymouth, for $300 - his first deal. Buzz graduated from Sacramento High School in 1941, and years later, helped Mayor Kevin Johnson transform his alma mater into a charter high school and St. Hope's Academy.

'Today is a very sad day for the Sacramento community as we mourn the loss of a true Sacramento icon,' Mayor Johnson said. 'Buzz Oates not only changed the real estate development industry, but was deeply committed to his family, his church and his community. Buzz always had a soft spot in his heart for young people. He never turned down a request when it came to his beloved Sacramento High School and the community of Oak Park. Buzz Oates will be greatly missed.'

In 1943, it was Buzz's unwavering love of country that nourished his desire to serve. He enlisted in the United States Air Force as an aviation cadet and graduated from the Air Force Bombardier School in 1944, a second lieutenant. During his military career, Buzz survived several near-death accidents, including a mid-air collision at 1,500 feet that killed all five occupants of the other plane. Then, while flying over Japan as a B-29 bombardier, Buzz had a scare above Osaka when two live bombs failed to dislodge from the bomb bay. Straddling the open bay, Buzz tossed the bombs by hand and saved his entire crew which earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross with a Cluster Medal. He was also awarded the Air Medal for completing 30 combat missions. In later years, Buzz loved to recount his military days and stayed in contact with fellow servicemen while also making a significant contribution to the Aerospace Museum of California at McClellan AFB.

Buzz's patriotism led to his support of numerous politicians and he often hosted fundraisers at his home. In addition to meeting Governor and President Ronald Reagan and President George W. Bush, Buzz had enduring friendships with United States Attorney General John Ashcroft, United States Representative Dan Lungren and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. Friend and current U.S. Representative Tom McClintock expressed, 'His community has lost one of the visionaries who built it; his country has lost one of the heroes who defended it; and his family and friends have lost one of the most giving and caring men any of us will know. Buzz Oates' passing leaves a great void that is itself a measure of a life well lived.'

His entrepreneurial spirit unscathed by WWII, Buzz took $2,000 he saved in the military and opened A&A Key Shop in an 8 x 11 foot space in Oak Park. His business acumen soon led to the creation of A&A Key Builders Supply, a retail establishment selling everything from nails to ovens. A change in the building supply business led Buzz to the idea that he could do better in commercial real estate. Always a visionary, he created Buzz Oates Enterprises (employing over 200 people internally and thousands more through sub-trade work) and was among the very first to utilize tilt-up construction with his first commercial building on Broadway Avenue. Those beginnings helped to establish his legendary reputation as a developer.

His early partnerships sparked lifelong friendships. Buzz and Joe Benvenuti (who passed in 2012), were known to be like brothers. The two epitomized the American dream - both men from humble beginnings with incredible work ethics and aspirations who recognized and created opportunity to build empires. Together, Buzz and Joe would work well into the night managing business at hand, and then poured concrete with their crew early the next morning. For a time, they were the only developers building warehouses through an ingenious, low cost tilt-up strategy that thwarted competition.

Buzz was also an enthusiastic mentor and partner. He was proud to say he taught Carl Panattoni the real estate business, enjoying Carl's success as he expanded into a national and international developer. The two enjoyed a thriving partnership for 40 years.

Eventually, Buzz Oates Enterprises grew into what is known today as The Buzz Oates Group of Companies, an integrated commercial real estate services organization that has developed, constructed and managed in excess of 80 million square feet of buildings in the Western United States. Buzz made an indelible mark on the Central Valley and Northern California landscape by not only developing industrial distribution buildings, offices, business parks and retail centers, but also by partnering in the renovation and redevelopment of landmark properties including the Senator Hotel and The Citizen Hotel in Sacramento and the Fashion Center in San Francisco.

After six decades of business, Buzz became known as Sacramento's most prolific developer, a visionary and a magnet for creating jobs in the region. He was known for his integrity, honesty, innovation and mathematical genius. Even more, he was a deeply religious man who would pray with his partners and make multi-million dollar deals on a handshake or the back of a paper napkin. In addition to forming more than 200 business partnerships during his lifetime, Buzz was founding Director of Five Star Bank and American River Bank. He had a mind for numbers and was touted as an expert in tax codes, especially in the area of business.

Incredibly focused and driven, Buzz could achieve anything he set his mind to. Yet beneath his indomitable exterior, Buzz was a pensive man and a quiet philanthropist with a compassionate heart. It was only recently that Buzz received accolades for his far-reaching philanthropic efforts. Through The Marvin L. 'Buzz' Oates Charitable Foundation, he focused on faith-based charities and children's causes with a specific desire to give young people the education and opportunity they needed to succeed. One such example is Mercy Ministries of America.

In 2009, Buzz made a $2.5 million gift and donated land with friend and business partner, Frank Ramos, to Mercy Ministries for the development of a state-of-the-art $6 million, 40-resident facility in Lincoln, California. He discovered in his 80's that establishing the Mercy home in California was one of the reasons God placed him on this earth and he treasured being a positive grandfather figure to the Mercy girls whenever he would see them. Mercy's residential program offers counseling that incorporates Christian principles with effective interventions. In addition to unplanned pregnancies, the program serves girls and young women, ages 13-28, who face a combination of life-controlling issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, addictions, depression and eating disorders. The Mercy program is offered free of charge, a reflection of the legacy Buzz wished to leave behind. He spoke of Mercy Ministries at every opportunity and raised money for the organization. Founder, Nancy Alcorn said, 'His financial support of Mercy Ministries turned our dream of having a home in California into reality and for this I and so many others will be forever grateful! Only eternity will fully reveal the multitude of life impacted by this great man.'

Additionally through the Foundation, Buzz made a significant and lasting impact on hundreds of organizations, large and small, ranging from education, student leadership foundations, elementary schools, high schools and universities to the advancement of medical research with significant gifts to UC San Diego Health Sciences Foundation, UC Davis, the UC Regents and the M.I.N.D. Institute. Buzz was widely known for his support of churches through gifts of real estate, especially Capital Christian Center in Sacramento and Destiny Christian Church in Rocklin. A deeply spiritual Christian with a respect and love of God, Buzz could be seen reading his Bible in his office and heard singing hymns in the quiet of his home, always finding opportunities, especially later in his life, to share the value of his faith with friends and business associates.

When Buzz met health challenges later in life, he loosened the reins of control of his business and delved into the stock market which fed his voracious appetite for numbers. He made going to church on Sundays and spending time with his family a priority. Throughout his life, regardless of success and wealth, Buzz remained true to himself. He was a man with a private jet who preferred to fly commercial... a man who loved to treat his family and friends to dinner, but would frequent inexpensive restaurants when dining alone. Buzz loved the numbers game of making the deal, but the bottom line and saving money always came first. From trading a new car for a truckload of nails (hard to come by at the time) to being stuck in the elevator in his house (he later installed a phone), Buzz's life was hardly uneventful.

Buzz was predeceased by his parents, Philip and Emma Oates, his brother, Alvin Oates, the mother of his children, Theda Oates, and his wife, Paula Winn. He is survived by his children, son Philip (Jana) Oates, and daughters Debbie (Rick) Massie, Marvilyn (Jim) Applegate, Judy (Steve) Buntain-Holt and Kathy (Greg) Fairrington, as well as 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of his life will be held at Capital Christian Center on Thursday, December 12, 2013, at 1pm. Prior to that, a public viewing will be held from 10am to Noon. The family will have a private Christian burial at East Lawn. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Buzz's memory may make a donation to Mercy Ministries of America in memory of Buzz Oates, P.O. Box 111060, Nashville, TN 37222.