Ollie Walter Gates, the youngest of three children born to George and Arzelia Gates on July 3, 1932 in Kansas City, received his education in the public schools of Kansas City MO and graduated in 1949.

The family restaurant business, Gates Bar-B-Que, which opened in 1946, had begun to prosper.  Having excelled in masonry and physical education, a football scholarship was awarded to him to attend Maryland State College at Princess Anne, Maryland. Summer vacations from college were spent working at the family restaurant.

Following two years of academic work at Maryland State College, a move was made to matriculate (to admit as a student) at Lincoln University in Jefferson City Missouri in order to commute on weekends to work and grow with the family business. This transfer negated the scholarship and increased personal responsibilities for meeting the tuition, room and board. In addition to spending weekends in Kansas City, working as a brick laying student on campus boosted the income to complete an education at Lincoln University in 1954.

Prior to entering the United States Army, Ollie married Maureen Shepherd in 1952, from their union five children were born.

Entering the army as 2nd Lieutenant, he completed the United States Army School of Engineering, in Fort Belvoir, Virginia in 1955. Ollie was discharged as 1st Lieutenant from active duty after serving two years in the United States Corps of Engineers and entered inactive duty with the 242nd Transportation Battalion National Guard in Kansas City Missouri.

1956 was the year the first “ground-up” restaurant was built. That heralds the beginning of the “Gates’ Bar-B-Q Industry” which exists today. There are now six family manned and operated restaurants.

Building and living in the heart of the city has sparked an interest in the native Kansas Citizen for community projects including housing a Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City Unit location. Ollie Gates’ vow, as long as he can, will be instrumental in the growth of the community and the growth of the city.