1986 Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame Inductee
Category: MULTIPLE SPORTS
Floyd Bates (deceased, 1975)
Sons: Floyd Jr., Duane
Daughter: Stephanie, Michelle
Many athletes have participated in sports in the City of Flint but very few performed as well as Floyd Bates. He possessed speed, agility, and power. Bates was a three sports star … football, basketball, track . . . at Central High School.
In 1938, while at Central, he was considered the greatest track man in the city of Flint. At this time he held more track records than any other Flint athlete. He accumulated astounding records in 120 high hurdles (I 5 sec.), high jump (6 ft. 1 1/2 inches) and broad jump (20 ft. 3 1/2 inches), which were all city records.
In the Saginaw Valley and Regional his records were: 120 high hurdles (I 5 sec.) and high jump (6 ft. 27/8 inches). State records: 120 high hurdles (I 5 sec.) and high jump (6 ft. 4 inches). He scored the most points by an individual in a state meet (22 points) — a record that still stands today.
In basketball he was the scoring champion in City Class A-League in 1940. He was also an outstanding player of the Great Lakes Academy and the Harlem Globetrotters for three years.
As an outfielder and pitcher in the City League Softball and the National Fastball League, he was one of the most feared long ball hitters in the history of the game. In 1948 and 1949, Bates was selected to play on the National Fastball All-Star Team.
He was inducted into the Michigan Softball Hall of Fame in 1982 and inducted into Greater Flint Hall of Fame the same year.
