The Community Foundation of St. Clair County and Port Huron Northern are pleased to announce the creation of the James and Barbara Bates Scholarship. The new prestigious scholarship award will provide $5,000 to an outstanding senior scholar-athlete from Port Huron Northern. The scholarship can then be renewed each year for students who stay in good academic standing.
Honoring the memory of long-time Blue Water Area residents and Port Huron Area School District educators through these awards is John Haas.
The James and Barbara Bates Scholarship will impact two decades of students. “John understood the importance of long-term college support and success when he created the Bates scholarship,” said Hale Walker, chair of the Community Foundation. “These awards will be renewable, so as the student’s expenses grow each year, the award will stay with them to help ease financial burdens.”
Going to college can be stressful and key to the Community Foundation’s scholarship program is providing students with a support network and connections to other resources as they navigate their collegiate journeys. This ties well into what Jim and Barb would have wanted for their students and how they supported their students during their lifetimes.
Jim was born in 1933 in Coldwater, Michigan, and Barb was born a year and a half later in Royal Oak, Michigan. They both graduated from Farmington High School, and that is where their relationship began. Jim went on to play football as a two-way starter at center and linebacker and basketball at The University of Michigan and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Ann Arbor. Barb received her teaching degree from Eastern Michigan University. The couple wed on June 22, 1957, and spent 61 years married to the love of their lives. They dedicated their careers to the Port Huron Area School District and contributed positively in many ways to the Port Huron community.
He is an inaugural member of the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Farmington High School Hall of Fame, and Port Huron Sports Hall of Fame. Although he had many opportunities to coach at a higher level, he dedicated his life to working with high school-age students, where he felt he could provide positive leadership and influence as his students developed into men and women. As a teacher, coach, devoted family man, and role model, his integrity was second to none as a man of deep values, honesty, and keeping his word. He was admired and respected by all who knew him.
Jim was a lifelong Michigan Wolverine and Port Huron Northern husky. He was a well-rounded individual with many talents including a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, The University of Michigan Druids Honor Society, Air Force ROTC, and the U of M Glee Club, performing all over the country. He loved teaching, coaching, and working with students. He was named Port Huron Northern’s first head football coach when it opened in 1965 and was influential in establishing blue and gold as the school colors as well as many other innovative ideas aiding in the development of his students.
Jim believed strongly in the fundamentals and developing players and students into quality young men and women. It wasn’t all about winning for him. Former student-athletes have said of him, “…He prepared me for the unknown. The discipline, the regimentation, and the love and honesty he shared with us gave me the tools I needed…” Jim would often say, “I feel I’ve been very lucky to have such great kids and coaches. I look around town, and I’m proud of the kids who have played.”
Barb was also a lifelong Wolverine and Husky fan. Her many talents complemented Jim well. She was president of the Delta Zeta sorority as an undergraduate and majored in art while also earning her teaching degree. She was an avid supporter of Jim’s coaching career as well as her children’s, grandchildren’s, and students’ interests, activities, and athletic performances. Her daily presence in their love, growth, and development had a profound and lifelong impact on them.
Barb loved teaching and spent most of her career as a third-grade teacher at Indian Woods and Keewahdin Elementary Schools. She followed all of her students throughout their careers and when possible, would send graduation cards to tell them how proud she was of them. Barb also spent 16 years teaching the Earth Keepers Program part time after retirement and enjoyed facilitating knowledge of the environment, appreciation for nature, and taking care of the community.
She was well known for her cooking, delicious cookies, and pies, and was generous in distributing them to family, friends, and those less fortunate. She was a caring, genuine person who always put others’ needs before her own. She was a member of the Port Huron Chapter of P.E.O., a Philanthropic Educational Organization, where she was honored for her 50 years of service. Barb was a talented artist in various media and was also part of a close-knit quilting group that met weekly for decades to quilt and support one another. In addition, she grew up with deaf parents, and used her skills to help and interpret for deaf people in the community.
Jim and Barb were active Port Huron United Methodist Church members and attended the Church of the Straits at their cabin in Mackinaw City, Michigan. They were an incredible couple and modeled marriage, parenting, and living life to its fullest to anyone fortunate enough to know them. The scholarship that was created in their honor will be awarded to a deserving student beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. Applications will be available on the Community Foundation’s website starting Jan. 8, 2024.
To explore options to support students or honor someone special, check out the Foundation’s Giving Center or reach out to Jackie Hanton at jackie@stclairfoundation.org.