|
One of Anthony's Mountain Pointe High School Classmates wrote, January, 2005:
Dear Ms. Bates,
I just
stumbled upon your website by accident earlier today (I was actually looking for articles on Coach Lovett) and was so touched
that I wanted to write. I went to school with Anthony for many years… I don’t even remember when I met him…
middle school maybe? We had a lot of classes together, what sticks out in my mind the most is Freshman Honors English.
Everyday before class we’d all sit around and chat with each other; I had a habit of sitting on the top of my desk vs.
in my actual seat. Anthony’s desk was near mine… he would always tease me…would make like he was going
to push me off the desk. He’d push me, then grab my legs or something and stop me from falling. He tormented
me like that for a few years. I grew up with Anthony. And although we never hung out with the same people, and
although sometimes he “tormented” me, I always knew Anthony was a great guy. I may not have totally understood
it at the time, but his “tormenting” came from a fun, joking place. When I learned of Anthony’s death
a few years back, I was shocked. It is really surreal to think that he is gone. Someone so young and vibrant;
full of life. I just wanted to tell you what a great guy I thought Anthony was. He will always be remembered fondly
by me, and by so many others. Thank you for starting the program that you have, you are making strides to make a real
difference in so many lives. As clearly evidenced, early detection is the only way to prevent such a tragedy from happening
to others like Anthony.
My sincerest
regards,
Shelby
Tuttle
MPHS Class
of ‘97
***********************************************************
Honors at Kansas State University
A memorial site was dedication on Sept. 4, 2004 and a ceremony held at K-State,
October 15, 2004. Please view the video presentation as 54,000 K-State football fans saw
the video presentation at the home game on the jumbo-tron..
| KSU Football Memorial |
|
| Plaque of Honor |
|
| Anthony Bates Memorial |
|
| Troy Miller Memorial |
|
| 2nd on left of Plaque of Honor |
| Nancy Bennett Memorial |
|
| 1st on right of Plaque of Honor |
| Coach Bob Cope Memorial |
|
| 2nd on right of Plaque of Honor |
| Anthony Bates |
|
| 1st on left of Plaque of Honor |
On Sepember 4, 2004, a memorial site was dedicated in
Manhattan, KS, for the young
people connected to Kansas
State University Football. On October 16, 2004, a
dedication ceremony was held prior to the KSU vs OU
football game. Members
of each family were present on
the football field. Honors were shown as Coach Bill Snyder
lead 54,000 fans in 30 seconds of silence to honor these families
and those Wildcat members passed on.
************************************************************
|
| Anthony at the Tractor Pull cheering on Reid Shipman - July, 2000 |
*********************************************
Charlie Sargent Oct., 2002
Manhattan, KS
I helped with a kids pedal pull a couple
of years ago at the Riley County Fair in Manhattan, Kansas when your son, Anthony, volunteered to help too. I don't know if
you have ever encountered Marie Dellen, but she is the greatest community leader I can imagine. She is the one who recruited
Anthony and a few other KSU athletes to help. I was the emcee and his job was to encourage these young kids as they took
part. He did a better job than did I. He was great at giving them a boost and confidence as they (4 to 12 year olds)
used their leg strength to pedal the little tractor that is hooked to a weighted sled. Obviously he was a celebrity
through our purple-colored eyes. Although he could have received and focused the attention on himself, his
humility and positive encouragement was on helping the kids.
Anyway I admired what Anthony did that July evening
in our little community for kids he didn't know. In the total scheme of things it was a small moment in time, but he
showed class and character when he didn't really have to, but he did.
I am not a talented writer, but thought
I would try to tell you how cool Anthony was. I know this is no surprise for you, because he was just being genuine
- who he was. When I have read of the great commitment you have given to heart screening for young folks I felt an admiration
of you as well, and just wanted to tell you "thanks" for making this planet a better place to live.
**********************************************
Nov., 2002
My name is Susan Shipman and the young man in the Riley County
4-H Fair Pedal Pull photo on your website is my son Reid Shipman. When I heard the news of your sons passing,
I hurried to have those pictures developed. I took them to Joan at the Football Office and asked if she could get those
to you. I knew that if something had happened to my son, I would have loved to have known what he was doing right before
it happened. I knew Joan would get you the pictures and seeing them up on the website brought me great joy. I
hope you can tell your son was having a wonderful time that night. As each child got off the tractor...he would high
five them and tell them what a great job they did. Kids in this town adore K-State football players and your son was
no different. Having a K-State football player tell them they had done a great job was like $100 in a candy store.
I only wish now that I had had a video camera so that I could have shared that with you. My contact with your son was
minimal but he made a great big impact on my son. The way your son conducted himself on and off the field is an inspiration
for all of us out there raising boys. We could all learn a lesson or two from you. Thank you for developing the
Anthony Bates Foundation. It's a real tribute to his legacy.
Susan
|
