Denver, Colorado--Charles Gates Jr., former chairman and CEO of Gates Corp. and Gates Rubber Co., died Aug. 28 at his home in Denver. He was 84.
Gates, the eldest son of Gates Corp. founder Charles Gates Sr., joined the firm in 1946 after working as a technical engineer at synthetic rubber producer Copolymer Corp. in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and was named vice president in 1951. He became president and chairman of the board in 1961, upon the death of his father, and subsequently led the company to international prominence by the time it was sold to Tomkins PLC in 1996.
After selling what was then the world's largest non-tyre rubber product company, Gates continued to be active in the family interests in ranching, oil and gas, water and real estate through Cody Resources. Committed to community progress, he was involved in numerous charitable organisations and was emeritus trustee of the Gates Family Foundation--which has awarded $147 million in grants over 59 years.
Gates is survived by a daughter, Diane Wallach of Denver, and a son, John Gates of Aspen, Colorado, and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife June (Swaner) Gates. He died after a short illness, according to the Gates Family Foundation; he had been diagnosed with cancer last year.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Children's Hospital Foundation in Denver, Graland Country Day School Foundation in Denver or Punahou School in Honolulu.
