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William H. Bates | |
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 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMassachusetts's6th district | |
| In office February 14, 1950 – June 22, 1969 | |
| Preceded by | George J. Bates |
| Succeeded by | Michael J. Harrington |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Henry Bates (1917-04-26)April 26, 1917 Salem, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | June 22, 1969(1969-06-22) (aged 52) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Relations | John Mulaney (great nephew)[1] |
| Alma mater | Brown University, 1940,Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, 1947 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Rank |  Ensign |
| Battles/wars |
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William Henry Bates (April 26, 1917 – June 22, 1969) was a member of theUnited States House of Representatives notable for his staunch support of theUnited States Navy.
Bates was born inSalem, Massachusetts, the son of Nora (Jennings) and RepresentativeGeorge J. Bates of the6th Massachusetts Congressional District, who also served as Salem's mayor. He attended local schools and graduated fromWorcester Academy in 1936. He received his undergraduate education atBrown University, Providence, R.I., graduating in 1940. Following graduation from Brown, he enlisted in theUnited States Navy in July 1940 and was commissioned as ensign in the Naval Reserve on January 30, 1941. Bates then received instruction at the Naval Reserve Supply Officer's School at the Naval Medical Center,Washington, D.C., before serving successive tours of duty at theWashington Navy Yard and inConstellation (IX-20).
He remained a naval reservist, and by 1949 had become the supply officer for the 4th Naval District. While Bates was stationed there, his father was killed in a plane crash at theWashington National Airport on November 1, 1949.
Bates resigned his reserve commission — he had attained the rank of lieutenant commander by that time — on February 14, 1950, to fill the seat of his late father in theUnited States House of Representatives. For nearly two decades, until his death in 1969, Bates staunchly advocated a strong military posture for the United States. On theJoint Congressional Committee on Atomic Energy and theHouse Armed Services Committee, he vigorously supported the development of nuclear-powered naval vessels. He also vigorously backed incentive pay programs and the establishment of better housing facilities for servicemen. He constantly sought means to enhance the training, caliber, and morale of military personnel. Bates voted in favor of theCivil Rights Acts of 1957,[2]1960,[3]1964,[4] and1968,[5] as well as the24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and theVoting Rights Act of 1965.[6][7]
Bates died of stomach cancer on June 22, 1969.[8] Immediately upon his death, the U.S. Navyattack submarineUSS William H. Bates (SSN-680), originally planned to be named USSRedfish, was renamed in his honor before her construction began.
The Bates Bridge, which crosses theMerrimack River betweenGroveland andHaverhill, Massachusetts, is named in his honor.
His great-nephew is comedianJohn Mulaney, whose maternal grandmother is Bates' sister.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMassachusetts's 6th congressional district February 14, 1950 - June 22, 1969 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
