Community
Richmond Councilman and former Mayor Nathaniel “Nat” Bates recently celebrated his 90th birthday, Sept. 9, 2021.
The councilman in acknowledgment of appreciation to his family for organizing the two birthday parties also expressed gratitude to the many relatives and friends who attended the events and to those who were unable to attend.
His daughter Gale Bates Anderson, sons Larry and Steven Bates along with granddaughter Rolanda Anderson joined together in hosting two parties in his honor. The first was a dinner party at Scott’s Seafood restaurant in Oakland’s Jack London Square attended by some 100 guests where the Honorable Willie L. Brown was quest speaker.
Mayor Brown made notice of Councilman Bates not only being the oldest elected official in the state of California but in the nation as well. The mayor praised the councilman for his longevity and outstanding contributions to the City of Richmond, State of California and the nation.
Recognition of congratulatory letters and resolutions were also presented from former President Jimmy Carter, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, State Senator Nancy Skinner and personal certificates and words of congratulations were expressed by Supervisor John Gioia and Richmond Mayor Tom Butt.
Attorney George Holland, president of the Oakland NAACP, also presented a resolution recognizing the councilman for his contributions throughout the Bay Area.
The second party was held at “The Godfather’s Winery” in Vallejo where another some 100 attendees enjoyed a soulful buffet with music, wine, dancing and a fun event. One highlight of the evening was when Councilman Bates led a number of his elderly male friends in doing the Soul Train stroll to the delight of the audience.
The councilman in acknowledgment of appreciation to his family for organizing the two birthday parties also expressed gratitude to the many relatives and friends who attended the events and to those who were unable to attend.
Special thanks are extended to nephew Charles Bates and his wife, Jean, as well as his nieces Dr. Nikita Phillips and Ola Caesar who all flew in from Texas and Louisiana for the occasion. Also traveling up from Southern California were his sister-in-law Helen Jean Strickland, nephew Vincent McCoy and grandson Michael Bates. The former Tower of Power vocalist Lenny Williams and his wife, Deborah also made the journey to the party. Councilman Bates concluded by giving all of the credit to God for his longevity, excellent health, financial security as well as to the many loyal friends and voters who have supported his decades of endurance as a political public servant.
Councilman Bates referenced the words of the late, great Baseball Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig, who, upon his retirement, said “I feel I am the luckiest man on the face of this Earth.”
