-- Published in The Medford Mail Tribune, 08/19/16:
Alan Curtis Bates passed away suddenly Aug. 5, 2016. He was 71.
Bates was known as a doctor, an Oregon senator, a husband, a father, a grandfather (better known as “Papa”), and a fly fisherman. After his death, many said Oregon lost one of its finest citizens. Former Gov. John Kitzhaber put it, “His passage leaves a hole in the heart of Oregon.” And Senator Mark Hass wrote, “I think the best thing you can say about someone is when their work for people and for the common good lives on long after they’re gone, he left this place in a lot better shape than when he found it.”
Born to Curtis and Ruth Bates March 17, 1945, Bates graduated from Everett High School in Seattle, Wash., in 1963 and from Central Washington State University, in Ellensburg, Wash., in 1969.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1967 as an enlisted soldier rising to the rank of sergeant. He then supported himself through medical school, graduating from the College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Mo., in 1977.
Bates moved to Southern Oregon and started his family medical practice in 1979. He continued serving patients as a primary care physician until his passing.
During more than 30 years of helping local citizens become healthier, Bates delivered thousands of babies into the world and saved lives again and again with his remarkable diagnostic skills. Bates took on leadership roles in the medical community, serving as Chief of Medicine at Rogue Valley and Providence Medical Centers and, most recently, on the board of Asante Physician Partners.
He was one of the founding fathers of modern healthcare reform in Oregon. He served on the Health Services Commission from 1989 to 1999, and chaired the commission from 1997 to 1999. There he helped develop the Oregon Health Plan. Bates’ political career started small, serving on the Eagle Point School Board from 1990 to 2001. He also served on the Governor’s Committee for Excellence in Education from 1997 to 1999.
In 2000 he ran for statewide office and was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives, where he worked from 2001 to 2004 with Ben Westlund and Jeff Kruse to fund and save the Oregon Health Plan and ensure healthcare for Oregon’s most needy. Since 2005 Bates has represented Southern Oregon in the Oregon Senate and chaired the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Services where he was charged with building and guiding a nearly $20 billion budget.
While serving in the Senate, Bates advanced many reforms including forming an integrated health agency to deliver better public health and healthcare to Oregon, and authoring Oregon’s current health system transformation legislation in partnership with his friend Dr. Kitzhaber. Bates’ work in the Legislature was extensive, and he authored and passed significant legislation related to foster care, public safety, food safety, civil rights, clean water, education, and housing among many others.
Bates is survived by his beloved wife, Laurie, of Medford. Married since 2009, they were like two teenagers in love. They were everything to one another. He said he never knew he could be so happy. He is also survived by his family, daughter, Kim Bethel and granddaughters, Lauren Bethel and Peyton Bethel, of Denver; daughter, Krista Bates, son-in-law Peter Huljich, and grandchildren Leo Huljich and Elizabeth Huljuch of Perth, Australia; daughter, Keri Bates Carland, son-in-law Chad Carland and grandchildren, Kaiden Carland, Chase Carland, Kellan Carland, and Charlotte Carland of Denver; son, Curtis Bates and grandchildren, Jaden Bates and Isabelle Bates of Medford; daughter, Samantha Bates Tipler and son-in-law Eric Tipler of Klamath Falls; daughter, Shelley Marquard of San Diego; and son, Brian Marquard of Rogue River. He is also survived by his sister, Ginny Ferrari of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; his mother, Betty Bates of Anacortes, Wash.; and ex-wife, Sharon “Sam” Bates of Eugene.
A public service will take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, August 20 in the Rogue River Room of Southern Oregon University in Ashland. This service is open to the public and a welcome time for former patients, constituents, friends, colleagues, and family to say goodbye to a great man.
In lieu of flowers, the Bates family requests donations for the Bates Memorial Scholarship Fund. Checks can be sent to Rogue Federal Credit Union, PO Box 4550, Medford; or can be dropped off at any Rogue Federal Credit Union branch. An additional memorial will be held Tuesday, September 20, at the Oregon State Capital Senate Chamber in Salem.
Alan Curtis Bates passed away suddenly Aug. 5, 2016. He was 71.
Bates was known as a doctor, an Oregon senator, a husband, a father, a grandfather (better known as “Papa”), and a fly fisherman. After his death, many said Oregon lost one of its finest citizens. Former Gov. John Kitzhaber put it, “His passage leaves a hole in the heart of Oregon.” And Senator Mark Hass wrote, “I think the best thing you can say about someone is when their work for people and for the common good lives on long after they’re gone, he left this place in a lot better shape than when he found it.”
Born to Curtis and Ruth Bates March 17, 1945, Bates graduated from Everett High School in Seattle, Wash., in 1963 and from Central Washington State University, in Ellensburg, Wash., in 1969.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1967 as an enlisted soldier rising to the rank of sergeant. He then supported himself through medical school, graduating from the College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Mo., in 1977.
Bates moved to Southern Oregon and started his family medical practice in 1979. He continued serving patients as a primary care physician until his passing.
During more than 30 years of helping local citizens become healthier, Bates delivered thousands of babies into the world and saved lives again and again with his remarkable diagnostic skills. Bates took on leadership roles in the medical community, serving as Chief of Medicine at Rogue Valley and Providence Medical Centers and, most recently, on the board of Asante Physician Partners.
He was one of the founding fathers of modern healthcare reform in Oregon. He served on the Health Services Commission from 1989 to 1999, and chaired the commission from 1997 to 1999. There he helped develop the Oregon Health Plan. Bates’ political career started small, serving on the Eagle Point School Board from 1990 to 2001. He also served on the Governor’s Committee for Excellence in Education from 1997 to 1999.
In 2000 he ran for statewide office and was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives, where he worked from 2001 to 2004 with Ben Westlund and Jeff Kruse to fund and save the Oregon Health Plan and ensure healthcare for Oregon’s most needy. Since 2005 Bates has represented Southern Oregon in the Oregon Senate and chaired the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Services where he was charged with building and guiding a nearly $20 billion budget.
While serving in the Senate, Bates advanced many reforms including forming an integrated health agency to deliver better public health and healthcare to Oregon, and authoring Oregon’s current health system transformation legislation in partnership with his friend Dr. Kitzhaber. Bates’ work in the Legislature was extensive, and he authored and passed significant legislation related to foster care, public safety, food safety, civil rights, clean water, education, and housing among many others.
Bates is survived by his beloved wife, Laurie, of Medford. Married since 2009, they were like two teenagers in love. They were everything to one another. He said he never knew he could be so happy. He is also survived by his family, daughter, Kim Bethel and granddaughters, Lauren Bethel and Peyton Bethel, of Denver; daughter, Krista Bates, son-in-law Peter Huljich, and grandchildren Leo Huljich and Elizabeth Huljuch of Perth, Australia; daughter, Keri Bates Carland, son-in-law Chad Carland and grandchildren, Kaiden Carland, Chase Carland, Kellan Carland, and Charlotte Carland of Denver; son, Curtis Bates and grandchildren, Jaden Bates and Isabelle Bates of Medford; daughter, Samantha Bates Tipler and son-in-law Eric Tipler of Klamath Falls; daughter, Shelley Marquard of San Diego; and son, Brian Marquard of Rogue River. He is also survived by his sister, Ginny Ferrari of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; his mother, Betty Bates of Anacortes, Wash.; and ex-wife, Sharon “Sam” Bates of Eugene.
A public service will take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, August 20 in the Rogue River Room of Southern Oregon University in Ashland. This service is open to the public and a welcome time for former patients, constituents, friends, colleagues, and family to say goodbye to a great man.
In lieu of flowers, the Bates family requests donations for the Bates Memorial Scholarship Fund. Checks can be sent to Rogue Federal Credit Union, PO Box 4550, Medford; or can be dropped off at any Rogue Federal Credit Union branch. An additional memorial will be held Tuesday, September 20, at the Oregon State Capital Senate Chamber in Salem.
-- Published in The Medford Mail Tribune, 08/19/16:
Alan Curtis Bates passed away suddenly Aug. 5, 2016. He was 71.
Bates was known as a doctor, an Oregon senator, a husband, a father, a grandfather (better known as “Papa”), and a fly fisherman. After his death, many said Oregon lost one of its finest citizens. Former Gov. John Kitzhaber put it, “His passage leaves a hole in the heart of Oregon.” And Senator Mark Hass wrote, “I think the best thing you can say about someone is when their work for people and for the common good lives on long after they’re gone, he left this place in a lot better shape than when he found it.”
Born to Curtis and Ruth Bates March 17, 1945, Bates graduated from Everett High School in Seattle, Wash., in 1963 and from Central Washington State University, in Ellensburg, Wash., in 1969.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1967 as an enlisted soldier rising to the rank of sergeant. He then supported himself through medical school, graduating from the College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Mo., in 1977.
Bates moved to Southern Oregon and started his family medical practice in 1979. He continued serving patients as a primary care physician until his passing.
During more than 30 years of helping local citizens become healthier, Bates delivered thousands of babies into the world and saved lives again and again with his remarkable diagnostic skills. Bates took on leadership roles in the medical community, serving as Chief of Medicine at Rogue Valley and Providence Medical Centers and, most recently, on the board of Asante Physician Partners.
He was one of the founding fathers of modern healthcare reform in Oregon. He served on the Health Services Commission from 1989 to 1999, and chaired the commission from 1997 to 1999. There he helped develop the Oregon Health Plan. Bates’ political career started small, serving on the Eagle Point School Board from 1990 to 2001. He also served on the Governor’s Committee for Excellence in Education from 1997 to 1999.
In 2000 he ran for statewide office and was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives, where he worked from 2001 to 2004 with Ben Westlund and Jeff Kruse to fund and save the Oregon Health Plan and ensure healthcare for Oregon’s most needy. Since 2005 Bates has represented Southern Oregon in the Oregon Senate and chaired the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Services where he was charged with building and guiding a nearly $20 billion budget.
While serving in the Senate, Bates advanced many reforms including forming an integrated health agency to deliver better public health and healthcare to Oregon, and authoring Oregon’s current health system transformation legislation in partnership with his friend Dr. Kitzhaber. Bates’ work in the Legislature was extensive, and he authored and passed significant legislation related to foster care, public safety, food safety, civil rights, clean water, education, and housing among many others.
Bates is survived by his beloved wife, Laurie, of Medford. Married since 2009, they were like two teenagers in love. They were everything to one another. He said he never knew he could be so happy. He is also survived by his family, daughter, Kim Bethel and granddaughters, Lauren Bethel and Peyton Bethel, of Denver; daughter, Krista Bates, son-in-law Peter Huljich, and grandchildren Leo Huljich and Elizabeth Huljuch of Perth, Australia; daughter, Keri Bates Carland, son-in-law Chad Carland and grandchildren, Kaiden Carland, Chase Carland, Kellan Carland, and Charlotte Carland of Denver; son, Curtis Bates and grandchildren, Jaden Bates and Isabelle Bates of Medford; daughter, Samantha Bates Tipler and son-in-law Eric Tipler of Klamath Falls; daughter, Shelley Marquard of San Diego; and son, Brian Marquard of Rogue River. He is also survived by his sister, Ginny Ferrari of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; his mother, Betty Bates of Anacortes, Wash.; and ex-wife, Sharon “Sam” Bates of Eugene.
A public service will take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, August 20 in the Rogue River Room of Southern Oregon University in Ashland. This service is open to the public and a welcome time for former patients, constituents, friends, colleagues, and family to say goodbye to a great man.
In lieu of flowers, the Bates family requests donations for the Bates Memorial Scholarship Fund. Checks can be sent to Rogue Federal Credit Union, PO Box 4550, Medford; or can be dropped off at any Rogue Federal Credit Union branch. An additional memorial will be held Tuesday, September 20, at the Oregon State Capital Senate Chamber in Salem.
Alan Curtis Bates passed away suddenly Aug. 5, 2016. He was 71.
Bates was known as a doctor, an Oregon senator, a husband, a father, a grandfather (better known as “Papa”), and a fly fisherman. After his death, many said Oregon lost one of its finest citizens. Former Gov. John Kitzhaber put it, “His passage leaves a hole in the heart of Oregon.” And Senator Mark Hass wrote, “I think the best thing you can say about someone is when their work for people and for the common good lives on long after they’re gone, he left this place in a lot better shape than when he found it.”
Born to Curtis and Ruth Bates March 17, 1945, Bates graduated from Everett High School in Seattle, Wash., in 1963 and from Central Washington State University, in Ellensburg, Wash., in 1969.
He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War from 1965 to 1967 as an enlisted soldier rising to the rank of sergeant. He then supported himself through medical school, graduating from the College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, Mo., in 1977.
Bates moved to Southern Oregon and started his family medical practice in 1979. He continued serving patients as a primary care physician until his passing.
During more than 30 years of helping local citizens become healthier, Bates delivered thousands of babies into the world and saved lives again and again with his remarkable diagnostic skills. Bates took on leadership roles in the medical community, serving as Chief of Medicine at Rogue Valley and Providence Medical Centers and, most recently, on the board of Asante Physician Partners.
He was one of the founding fathers of modern healthcare reform in Oregon. He served on the Health Services Commission from 1989 to 1999, and chaired the commission from 1997 to 1999. There he helped develop the Oregon Health Plan. Bates’ political career started small, serving on the Eagle Point School Board from 1990 to 2001. He also served on the Governor’s Committee for Excellence in Education from 1997 to 1999.
In 2000 he ran for statewide office and was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives, where he worked from 2001 to 2004 with Ben Westlund and Jeff Kruse to fund and save the Oregon Health Plan and ensure healthcare for Oregon’s most needy. Since 2005 Bates has represented Southern Oregon in the Oregon Senate and chaired the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Services where he was charged with building and guiding a nearly $20 billion budget.
While serving in the Senate, Bates advanced many reforms including forming an integrated health agency to deliver better public health and healthcare to Oregon, and authoring Oregon’s current health system transformation legislation in partnership with his friend Dr. Kitzhaber. Bates’ work in the Legislature was extensive, and he authored and passed significant legislation related to foster care, public safety, food safety, civil rights, clean water, education, and housing among many others.
Bates is survived by his beloved wife, Laurie, of Medford. Married since 2009, they were like two teenagers in love. They were everything to one another. He said he never knew he could be so happy. He is also survived by his family, daughter, Kim Bethel and granddaughters, Lauren Bethel and Peyton Bethel, of Denver; daughter, Krista Bates, son-in-law Peter Huljich, and grandchildren Leo Huljich and Elizabeth Huljuch of Perth, Australia; daughter, Keri Bates Carland, son-in-law Chad Carland and grandchildren, Kaiden Carland, Chase Carland, Kellan Carland, and Charlotte Carland of Denver; son, Curtis Bates and grandchildren, Jaden Bates and Isabelle Bates of Medford; daughter, Samantha Bates Tipler and son-in-law Eric Tipler of Klamath Falls; daughter, Shelley Marquard of San Diego; and son, Brian Marquard of Rogue River. He is also survived by his sister, Ginny Ferrari of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; his mother, Betty Bates of Anacortes, Wash.; and ex-wife, Sharon “Sam” Bates of Eugene.
A public service will take place at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, August 20 in the Rogue River Room of Southern Oregon University in Ashland. This service is open to the public and a welcome time for former patients, constituents, friends, colleagues, and family to say goodbye to a great man.
In lieu of flowers, the Bates family requests donations for the Bates Memorial Scholarship Fund. Checks can be sent to Rogue Federal Credit Union, PO Box 4550, Medford; or can be dropped off at any Rogue Federal Credit Union branch. An additional memorial will be held Tuesday, September 20, at the Oregon State Capital Senate Chamber in Salem.
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