[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 137 (Thursday, September 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF MR. OLLIE W. GATES

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                          HON. EMANUEL CLEAVER

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 15, 2011

  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today in recognition of the 
achievements of Mr. Ollie W. Gates, a businessman, humanitarian, 
community developer, and a resident of the Fifth District of Missouri, 
which I am honored to represent. Mr. Gates is President of Gates Bar-B-
Q, and is recognized as one of the purveyors of the best barbecue in 
the Nation, if not the world. His sauces and seasonings are shipped 
around the world and his famous greeting, ``Hi, May I Help You?'' is 
also known world-wide. Some Presidents of the United States have either 
stopped at his local establishments or had his barbecue products 
shipped to the White House. This week, Mr. Gates is to be inducted into 
the Missouri Walk of Fame during a reception as part of the 
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference, 
an event held to honor the achievements of African-Americans who have 
made significant contributions to Missouri and the Nation.
  After receiving a football scholarship from Maryland State College 
(now the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore) and excelling there for 
two years, Mr. Gates moved closer to home to help in the family 
business, graduating from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, 
Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. Upon completion of 
his studies, he joined the U. S. Army. He was a 1st Lieutenant at the 
conclusion of active duty service, and thereafter served in the Army 
Reserves in Kansas City, Missouri.
  Mr. Gates' list of achievements read like a Who's Who in business, 
volunteerism, and philanthropy. He served on the Kansas City Board of 
Parks and Recreation for 18 years, many of those as President. He was 
the spearhead of the Black Veterans Memorial in Kansas City to honor a 
group of soldiers never-before-memorialized in Kansas City and he is in 
the process of renovating a building to honor his friend Buck O'Neil, a 
manager with the Kansas City Monarchs baseball team in the Negro 
Leagues, and a coach with the Chicago Cubs in the Major Leagues. He has 
served on numerous civic boards including the Missouri Highway and 
Transportation Commission, Bruce R. Watkins Foundation Inc., US Bank 
Corporation, Negro Leagues Museum, Spirit of Freedom Foundation Inc., 
City of Fountains, and the Enshriners to name a few. Mr. Gates has also 
been recognized for many civic honors such as Restaurateur of the Year 
Award by the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association, Citizen of the 
Year Award by the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, 
Outstanding Leadership Award by the NAACP, Executive of the Year Award 
by the Corporate Report of Kansas City, Missouri, and the Hall of Fame 
Award and Distinguished Alumni Award both from Lincoln University. Mr. 
Gates has received many more accolades too numerous to mention.
  Ollie Gates has been recognized in the form of music by Professor 
Bobby Watson, director of the University of Missouri, Kansas City 
Conservatory of Music in the jazz ensemble work, The Gates BBQ Suite. 
This is a seven-part rendition which has been put on CD. There is also 
a CD recorded by Kansas City rapper, Tech N9ne entitled The Gates Mixed 
Plate. Mr. Gates was this year's ``hero'' to elementary students at the 
Gladstone Elementary School in Kansas City. The kids sang a song to him 
entitled ``Hi, May I Help You!'' which was a spin-off of the saying 
that employees of Gates Bar-B-Q say to everyone who comes into their 
restaurants to order food.
  For those reasons and more, it is indeed an honor and privilege to 
induct Mr. Ollie W. Gates into the Missouri Walk of Fame at its annual 
reception, hosted by myself and fellow Missourian, U.S. Representative 
William Lacy Clay of St. Louis.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in expressing our appreciation to Mr. 
Ollie W. Gates and applaud his endless commitment to serving the 
residents of the State of Missouri and the Greater Kansas City 
Metropolitan Area. He is a true role model, not just to the African-
American community in Missouri, but to the entire community nationally. 
We are certain that his success as an entrepreneur and his use of his 
considerable gifts in rebuilding 12th Street, east of Troost, and the 
entire area around 47th Street from the Paseo to Troost Avenue will 
serve as a stepping stone or road map for many other African-Americans 
eager to become as successful in their own undertakings as Ollie W. 
Gates has exemplified.

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