Ollie Gates

Ollie Walter Gates was born in Kansas City, Missouri. His father opened Gates Ol’ Kentucky Bar-B-Q at 19th and Vine in 1946. Mr. Gates worked at the restaurant as a high school student. Following his graduation with an engineering degree from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, where he participated in ROTC, he spent two years in the Army. Mr. Gates then returned to Kansas City and joined the family business. After his father died in 1960, he opened a jazz club named OG’s on 31st Street, with a nearby Gates Bar-B-Q restaurant. Although OG’s was a popular jazz club Mr. Gates sold it to focus on the barbecue business in 1970. That same year he opened a Gates & Sons restaurant at 47th and The Paseo. Mr. Gates continued to expand the business. He emphasized a quality product, serving the food in a pleasant atmosphere, and closely supervising all the details of how Gates & Sons restaurants should operate. Mr. Gates is also very involved in community activities, and has been recognized many times for business accomplishments, volunteering for special jobs and services, and philanthropy. Upon the death of Bruce R. Watkins in September 1980, Mr. Gates was appointed to the Board of KC Parks and Recreation. Mr. Watkins and Mr. Gates were very close friends, and Mr. Gates served as campaign manager for Mr. Watkins during his 1979 run for Mayor of Kansas City. Mr. Gates served on the Board for eighteen years (1980-1998) and was its President from 1991 until 1998. The Ensrhiners’ organization is particularly important to him. The group has supported several projects to benefit Kansas City – the Spirit of Freedom Fountain, the Satchel Paige Stadium, the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Heritage Center, the John “Buck” O’Neil Research and Education Center at 18th and the Paseo, and the Black Veterans Memorial among others, with Mr. Gates playing a leading role. For these accolades and many others, The Trailblazer Awards honor him.