It was a culture shock for Ted Bates (Sep. 22, 1936 – Apr. 17, 2021) when he arrived at the Oregon State campus in 1957 from Los Angeles. Coach Tommy Prothro knew both territories and set Bates up for a successful college and pro career.
The 6-foot three-inch, 217-pound tackle was Player of the Year in the LA Southern League and Prothro had seen him play while still an assistant at UCLA. He made an immediate impact on the 1956 Beaver team that went 7-3-1 and reached the Rose Bowl. Bates was a combination of size and speed that cleared the way for Joe Francis, Earnel Durden and Tom Berry. The Beavs won six straight games to clinch the Rose Bowl berth including a 20-19 nailbiter at Stanford. The Civil War was a 14-14 tie with the Ducks then 1957 opened with a loss to #3 ranked Iowa in the Rose Bowl.
Bates' teams won more than they lost, Oregon State was 21-9-1 during his three years on campus. Ted was selected for two All-American first teams. He played in the1958 East-West Shrine games, and the Hula Bowl, and was named to the All-Coast team. He received the 1958 Hayward Award as Oregon’s outstanding amateur athlete.
He earned his degree in social work and was drafted in 1959 by the Chicago Cardinals, spending four years with the team through their move to St. Louis, then, slowed by injuries finished his career with the Jets in 1963.
Ted returned to Southern California and began a 30-year career working for the City of Pasadena. He helped start the Pasadena Black History Parade and the Pasadena Jazz Fest and was a beloved community leader and advocate for children.
Ted Bates is also a member of the Oregon State University Athletics Hall of Fame.