Applications now open for Roy S. Bates Scholarship
Roy Bates enjoys two of his favorite hobbies, reading and smoking a pipe, in this 1977 photo taken shortly after he retired as a teacher at Northwestern.
Many Wayne County sports events and traditions have gone by the wayside since the Roy S. Bates Scholarship was created in 1994.
However, the Bates Scholarship remains as strong as ever, thanks to the vision and program established by the late Roy Bates.
Applications are being accepted until March 15 for the 32nd annual Roy Bates Scholarship Award.
Eight high school seniors from Wayne County will receive a Bates Foundation one-time scholarship of $2,500. They also will become finalists for the Bates Player of the Year, which will be announced this spring.
The Bates Foundation, which is a component of the Wayne County Community Foundation, will reach $490,000 this year in scholarship money awarded to Wayne County student-athletes over three-plus decades.
Rick Rottman, Bates Scholarship Committee chairman, said being involved with the scholarship is an annual highlight.
“Nothing makes me happier than to see this award continue,” said Rottman, a 1969 Triway graduate and longtime area sports enthusiast. “I’m certainly a traditional Wayne County and area guy, and just hearing Roy Bates’ name associated with anything and what it represents is special.”
Roy Bates died at age 88 in 2004 after a life that saw him work as a teacher, coach, broadcaster, referee, athlete and more.
Bates played baseball and basketball for the now defunct Chester High and coached at both Chester and Northwestern. As a coach he won more than 400 games in basketball and baseball and won state championships in both sports.
Bates set up the foundation that bears his name to honor Wayne County senior student-athletes based on character, grades and athletic ability — in that order.
To be eligible, applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA, be a senior at a Wayne County high school, and play basketball and/or baseball/softball (his favorite sports). The rules state only one athlete per school can receive an award.
“This is an excellent scholarship for seniors to apply for,” Rottman said. “Applying to anything when it’s college time is a good experience for kids to do, and they should do it.
“I think it helps to make you feel good about yourself and reevaluate yourself, and those are all good things even if you don’t win (a Bates Scholarship). Likewise, it’s really good to know what Roy Bates was all about. It’s easy to find that out and look into it. I believe all the school libraries have his book, and you can find information online. His book is an easy, worthwhile read, and it’s very interesting.”
To receive an application form, visit www.waynecountycommunityfoundation.org. Call the WCCF at 330-262-3877 for more information.