After graduating from Lincoln Junior
High School in 1968 and from Lincoln Community High School in 1972,
he entered Westminster College in Fulton, Mo. He was a member of the
Delta Tau Chapter of Sigma Chi fraternity and received a bachelor's
degree in May 1976 with a double major, in economics and in business
administration and accounting.
Wanting to pursue a career as a lawyer
led him to the Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa. His
internship position during his final year of law school was serving
as the law clerk for the late Judge John T. McCullough of the 4th
District Appellate Court. Bates received his Juris Doctor and
graduated with honors in December of 1978.
He returned to Lincoln as an
associate in his father's law practice, later becoming a partner,
managing partner and then the owner of Woods and Bates, Attorneys at
Law.
Throughout his law career, he has
presented many public seminars in the local area on various legal
issues -- wills, estate planning and powers of attorney. He
continues to be a member of the American Bar Association, Illinois
Bar Association and Logan County Bar Association.
Since returning to Lincoln in 1978,
Bates has been actively involved in the community. His time and
dedication have made, and continue to make, positive contributions
to Lincoln and Logan County.
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The Bates family has a long
association with District 27. Bill's father, William C. Bates Jr.,
served on the board of education in the 1960s. Bill was a board
member for 16 years (1985-2001) and served as board president from
1993 to 2001. His son, Blinn Bates, was recently re-elected to his
second term on the board and currently serves as vice president.
Since 1998, Bill has been the
president and director of The Woods Foundation. The foundation was
established by his former law partner, Robert Woods, and Woods'
wife, Joan, and generously supports education and other services in
Lincoln and Logan County.
Bates also serves as a member of
the board of directors of Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital. He has
served on various hospital committees and was recently co-chair of
the capital campaign committee that raised approximately $4.2
million for the new hospital building.
Bates has also served as a member
of the Lincoln College board of trustees and the boards of the
Lincoln YMCA, Lincoln Elks Crippled Children's Trust, Lincoln/Logan
Chamber of Commerce, Logan County Chapter of American Cancer
Society, and the Logan County Park and Trails Foundation. He has
served as president of the St. Clara's Manor board of directors and
as president and founding director of the Logan County Chapter of
Ducks Unlimited. |