James Pickens Gates' Obituary
James “Jim” Pickens Gates, whose career in Memphis as a commercial real estate appraiser and mortgage banker spanned more than 50 years, died Thursday at Methodist University Hospital at the age of 82. Jim, who grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, where he was Cadet Colonel of the University’s Air Force ROTC unit. After graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force and entered aviation training, flying T33 Trainers, F94 Fighters, B47 Bombers, and most notably, U-2 Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Aircraft. As a U-2 pilot during the height of the Cold War in 1957-1958, Captain Gates flew 16 surveillance missions over the Soviet Union. He separated from the Air Force as a Captain and moved to Memphis with his wife Carolyn and son Stephen in 1959. After working as a mortgage banker for the Equitable Life Insurance Company, he opened his own mortgage banking business. He later sold it to Fogelman Properties and became an appraiser of commercial and industrial real estate, earning his designation as Member of the Appraisal Institute (MAI). He was President of Gates Appraisal Company, Inc., President of the Memphis Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, a lecturer at the University of Memphis Southern School of Banking, a director of Mid-South Title Company, and an arbitrator for both the New York Stock Exchange and the National Association of Securities Dealers. His Daughter, Kimbrough Gates Nash, followed his career path and became an MAI appraiser herself. “I learned at the feet of the master,” she said. Active in community service, Jim served as director of the Liberty Bowl, Memphis Opera Theatre, University of Memphis College of Arts and Sciences, and the Germantown Arts Alliance. He also was President of the Navy League, Millington Chapter, President of the University Club of Memphis, President and Board Chairman of the Great River Carnival, and director and chairman of the Mystic Society of Memphi. For 26 years he was Master of Ceremonies for Saturday Night Memphi parties. He severed also as trustee for the Institute of Egyptian Art and Archaeology and the University of Memphis Foundation. Jim’s political allegiances were decidedly Republican. In the 1970’s he was manager of the Winfield Dunn for governor campaign as well as the U.S Senatorial campaign for Howard Baker. Locally, he managed the campaigns of his wife Carolyn, who served more than 17 years on the Shelby County Commission. Keen-eyed visitors to Jim’s office would find a plaque on the wall documenting that he once beat “pool shark” Minnesota Fats in a game of 8-ball. Also in recognition of his outstanding contributions as organizer of Memphis’ first air show, he was personally recognized for his leadership by the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron, as well as the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team. In addition to his wife Carolyn and his daughter Kimbrough, Jim leaves two sons, James Stephen Cates of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Charles Christian Gates of Nashville; a son-in-law, Jeffery Nash, and two grandchildren, Alexi Kimbrough Nash and James Jeffery Nash, all of Belleville, Illinois. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday at Memorial Park on Poplar Avenue. Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at Germantown United Methodist Church, with a reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall. Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Park Mausoleum Rotunda. The family request that any memorial be sent to Shelby Residential & Vocational Services (SRVS), in honor of his granddaughter Alexi K. Nash, Happy Tails (no kill animal shelter), or Wounded Warriors Project.Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38119. “Celebrating Life… Behind the Stone Wall”
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