Dale F. Bates

Dale Bates was born March 2, 1940 in Boise to parents, Frank and Marjorie (Bunch) Bates. He was long and thin and his Daddy first remarked, “He looked like a little railroad spike,” thus, Spike’s life began. He required a special diet prepared by a nanny, a little white goat named Gladys. Living his first 20 yrs. on farms gave Spike the opportunity of learning to work. With his Dad’s help, by age six, he was milking cows and whatever else that he could handle. Being rewarded by- the fun of sitting behind the wheel of the old Chevy pickup and driving through the pastures and barnyard. Wherever he lived there was always a basketball hoop. Later, besides working the family farm in the foothills he helped the neighboring ranchers gather cattle and at haying time, and also taking any chance to ride his motorcycle and to do some bird hunting. He was quick witted and funny and a perfectionist with a stubborn streak! A crack shot (from BB guns to the big guns). In his younger days, Spike ‘lived’ for deer and elk season. Whether he was riding a horse with his Dad or on foot. I don’t think he ever came back to camp with an empty bag. A popular location in the neighborhood was Spike’s home-baseball-field set-up out in the pasture. His cousin, Jerry Bunch, remembers using dried up cow-pies for bases. In 1954 five High School scouts from the surrounding area gathered to watch Spike pitch his last game at Ustick grade School, each hoping to lure him to their school in the fall. He chose Meridian High School and played 4 years of Varisty baseball. During the summer’s he played Legion Ball. A championship game was coming up at the old ‘Boise Braves field’ off Broadway. The night before he got the call that he’d be starting the next day. He was fourteen years old, the youngest on either team. It was a proud day for Spike when he walked out on the field where many times he had watched the “Big Boys” play “Pro Ball”. He pitched the entire game for his winning team. Later he played a couple summers for the “Nampa Clippers, a California based semi-pro club. Since his rotator cuff was now a problem, he switched off playing left field. Afterwards going to fast pitch softball. As a freshman, Spike, played one basketball game with the Junior Varsity. The next day the Varsity Coach told him, “When they call the Varsity in for practice, you come in, there’s no use wasting your time with the JV’s.” He played forward, wearing the number 7 for the next four years, averaging at least 20 pt. a game. In all that time, only once he didn’t start due to an ankle injury, going in at halftime making 21 rebounds and scored 19 points. After High School Spike played winter basketball for the Eagle Town Team and a couple nights a week for other teams around the valley, traveling as far away as Grangeville and Idaho Falls. Spike loved football and played a lot of it, but not on any sanctioned team. He was offered a starting quarterback position but turned it down because of interference with fall hunting. He was always a Vandal fan!

Spike was a person who made an impression on those he met, (in a good way). He made lasting friendships with some players, their families and coaches, and followed their careers. He had a remarkable memory especially for sports. His special teams were Lewis and Clark baseball and the great Coach Ed Sheff! As well as the Vandals, Vale Vikings and Carey Panthers. It took several years, many long hours and hard work building his detail business at ‘Bates Auto Beauty’. He worked and ran his shop just short of 50 years. It was DETAIL at its best. Eventually, it became listed at Boise’s BBB as number one Detail Shop in the Treasure Valley and beyond. Though he tried, a grey cloud seemed to hang over Spike in a most unfortunate area, resulting in an occasional marriage. Finally, a ray of sunshine the birth of his daughter Tamera, whom instantly stole his heart. In the 60’s-70’s Spike looked forward to driving his two cars at the dragstrip. Four years ago, he heard “by the grapevine” that his Pontiac Firebird still held a record at the Couer D’Alene track. During a lifetime of traveling endless miles through the mountains and deserts with his motorcycles and Toyota pickup, Spike came to know the country like the back of his hand. In addition, he was like a ‘walking encyclopedia’ on sports. During the last few year’s he had great fun on badger hunting trips in the desert south of Mountain Home with his pal, Norman. In April of this year, Spike was honored in Emmett by the Mayor and Chief of Police as “Hero of the Month” for assisting in saving the life of a woman he discovered in an accident, until he EMT’s arrived. Spike worked hard and earned all the support his family could give. Spike is survived by a daughter, Tamera (Brian) Sloman of Poulsbo, WA, two granddaughters Brook and Paige Sloman, a sister Marsha Mearse of Boise, a nephew Rocky Race of Cascade, and a stepson Troy Bates and wife.