May 21, 2002

Thomas F. Bates, 64, long-time administrator at the U. S. Naval Academy, died Tuesday morning, May 21, of cancer at his home in Arnold, Md.

Bates had been at the Naval Academy since 1973 and spent 23 of those years as the Sports Information Director. He had been the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance since 1996.

He began his career in sports information in 1961 when he was hired as SID at Gannon (Pa.). In 1967 he moved on to the director's post at Lafayette College and in 1973 he began his 23-year stint as SID at the Naval Academy.

Bates received the Irving T. Mash Award, which is given to the ECAC Sports Information Director of the Year, in 1990 and was presented with the Elmore Hudgins SID Award from the All-American Football Foundation in 1996. The College Sports Information Directors of America honored him with a lifetime achievement award in 2000.

Vigilant in promoting all of Navy's varsity sports, his career was highlighted by the promotion of David Robinson to National Player of the Year honors in 1987 and the promotion of Napoleon McCallum as a Heisman Trophy candidate in 1984 and 1985.

Bates was the SID for three bowl teams at Navy-the 1978 Holiday Bowl, the 1980 Garden State Bowl and the 1981 Liberty Bowl-and he publicized four Navy basketball teams (1985, '86, '87 and '94) that went on to the NCAA Basketball Tournament, including the 1986 team that reached the Elite Eight.

As the Naval Academy Athletic Association's Director of Compliance, Bates developed a daily e-mail tip of NCAA rules, which has been utilized by several other colleges and universities. He was instrumental in guiding the Academy through the NCAA's re-certification process and received high marks from the peer review team.

Bates worked with three athletic directors (Bo Coppedge, Jack Lengyel and Chet Gladchuk), six football coaches (George Welsh, Gary Tranquill, Elliot Uzelac, George Chaump, Charlie Weatherbie and Paul Johnson) and five different basketball coaches (Dave Smalley, Bob Hamilton, Paul Evans, Pete Herrmann and Don DeVoe).

A native of Meadville, Pa., Bates was a 1960 graduate of Notre Dame where he earned his bachelor's degree in business administration.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, daughter Susan, sons Dan, Michael and Timothy, mother Mary Jane, sisters Rose Anne Kister, Jeanne Hinderegger and Kathleen Dilley and five grandchildren.

Arrangements are under the direction of Barranco Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Highway, Severna Park, Md. Visiting hours will be from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Monday, May 27. A Memorial Service will be celebrated at the Naval Academy Chapel at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 28.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society, Anne Arundel Central, 1041 Route 3 North, Gambrills, Md. 21054.