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The Director of Athletic Major Gifts has worked on The Farm since 1975.
Nov. 4, 2003
STANFORD, Calif. - John Kates, who has worked in development at Stanford University for nearly 30 years and played a major role in the construction and renovation of all of the university's athletic facilities, has announced his retirement. Kates' last day on the job will be December 31, 2003.
"The Stanford Athletic Department would not be where it is today without John Kates," Stanford Athletic Director Ted Leland said. "John's role in helping build our scholarship endowment and enhance our facilities has been immeasurable."
Kates graduated from Stanford in 1958 with a degree in Medieval History and went on to earn a MBA from Columbia University in 1960. He began his tenure at Stanford University in July of 1975, and moved to the athletic department as the Director of Development in June of 1984.
During his tenure in the Athletic Program, Kates played an integral role in expanding the department's scholarship endowment. He was also directly involved in fundraising for the construction of the Arrillaga Family Sports Center, the Avery Aquatic Center, Cobb Track and Chandler Infield, the Ford Center, the Steuber Rugby Stadium and the Smith Family Softball Stadium, the renovation of Maples Pavilion and Sunken Diamond and the naming of Foster Field (Stanford Stadium). Kates will continue his affiliation with Stanford Athletics after his retirement through his family's two fully endowed athletic scholarships that provide an education for an athlete from both the football and women's basketball programs.
"To me, John Kates is Mr. Stanford," men's basketball head coach Mike Montgomery said. "He is a tremendously loyal supporter of this university and this department, and has been involved in everything we have ever done. He knows everybody and cares about everybody. He is the type of person who represents what Stanford University is today."
Kates and his wife, Gene, reside in Atherton and have three children (Mary, Chris and Tim, who is the starting men's water polo goalie at the University of California.