Larry Bates

Hi All from Lake Toledo Bend-------Fishing capital of the world (I'm proving that statement wrong). Why do I feel like I'm turning in my homework at the last minute?-----After getting out of A&M--One of the baseball players from there and I opened an employment agency in Houston. Things were great---------for a while. Got married during this time and we had an awesome son.    The employment situation went bad in'69. My sister told me about how well the mgr. was doing at a Dairy Queen??????? trade in my shark skin suits for a little white uniform--Gulp!!  My son was hungry so I jumped in head first.  The only other fast food at the time was KFC.   No matter how bad things got people still had to eat.   I was a district mgr. for them and supervised 10 stores in Dallas.  They offered me the town of San Antonio as a Div. Mgr. but I turned it down and asked to get back home.  I then jumped in with this new Co. Rons kfc--Made V. Pres with them in charge of franchise sales and over seeing all hiring and training. Wrote their training manual.    Then to Sysco food services.  promoted to Corp sales.    My customers were Rice University, Club Corp of America, all of the Pappas chain and Lubys----All at the same time.                                                   During this time I met Carrolyn----the super lady.  After being single and raising my son for 10 yrs.  then this lady comes into my life. WOW!      We have been married for 10 yrs. now. I could just sit and hug her all day long!   She is awesome at everything she tries-'cept sports.    We hit Vegas twice a year and travel another 4-5 wks a year. Also a great fisherlady. 

      We moved to Yoakum 7 & 1/2  I was able to retire.  Here I got involved with teaching school being bored I started substituting (Carrolyn still working)     BELIEVE what the teachers say about your grandkids!!!!   I also teach girls how to pitch softball.  I started a soccer league for the kids, a football league for the dads and took over girls softball.  Then  a Catholic school asked me to be the coach----heaven on earth.    Volleyball, football, basketball, track, softball, P.E.  and health.                                                         

After 5 yrs. we moved to the lake.  Teaching softball to kids again then the athletic dir. sees me--------------now I am the High school softball coach.  Getting the place ready to fully retire  see ya     Larry                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Before Carrolyn came along I had a freak accident and was confined to the hospital for 5 weeks no food or water (torn esophagus).   Most folks don't live thru it. Fellow classmate and friend Noma Fleming was there every evening to make sure everything was ok. I can never repay her for this help.  She is another angel that is part of my life . Thank you Lord for being so great and for all of your angels.   LB