It's not easy to know where to start when telling the story of someone who gave so much to so many. He still means so much to those who's lives he has touched that it's only fitting to use his own words to help describe the person that we all love to remember.
| "The strength of any organization is merely a reflection of the membership. The more involved and responsive the membership, the better equipped the organization is to deal with issues and carry out business. The Ohio Valley Hockey Officials Association recognizes these truths by working to channel membership involvement, so we might put a better product on the ice for all hockey groups in the area using our services." - "In The Crease", Phil Bates '98 |
A dedicated family man, Phil & Melanie Bates were married in 1979 and chose Cincinnati as the place that they would raise their three children, Emma, Jonathan & Griffin. Active in both officiating and coaching, Phil coached for many years, and even started the hockey program at Walnut Hills. He influenced many lives through hockey, even in his younger years, and this is one instance recalled in his own words.
"Several years ago, I was presented an opportunity by CAHA to attend USA Hockey's Initiation Program Orientation. Encouraged to attend by my "ice buddies", I began to look forward to an afternoon of presentations about the sport I loved with instructions in the latest techniques to teach the kids to play the game. And so, on a crisp September morning, we loaded up in a couple of cars and headed off to Columbus, Indiana.
Conversation began and ended with hockey that day. We talked about the up coming season, who the new coaches would be and how the sport was really beginning to take off here in the Cincinnati area. Eventually, the talk turned to the seminar.
Who was teaching this Hockey Initiation Program? "Robert Zion" came back the reply. "He's from USA Hockey, but I don't really know anything about him."
Robert Zion. I'd heard that name someplace before, or had I? "I think he writes for "American Hockey Magazine," I offered, only guessing where my name association was rooted.
"I've heard this presentation is pretty good," offered another, "but I've never heard of him."
Nobody had really heard of him and so I became more secure in my "American Hockey Magazine" theory. I had heard that name before, after all. Anyway, this program held promise for its content and unique philosophy that perhaps offered our kids a much better hockey "start" than I had growing up and playing hockey in Toledo.
We arrived in Columbus just in time to pour a cup of coffee and grab a seat. Robert Zion was an excellent speaker and even entertaining on a personal level when he outlined his hockey background in Toledo!
He was a teacher by profession, and a high school hockey coach. He was also actively researching the philosophy of teaching the game. He was an enthusiastic salesman for the Initiation Program.
At the mid-morning break, I introduced myself, revealing our common ties. "Phil" he shot back. "It's really nice to see you again." "Again?" I queried.
"Don't you remember me" I'm Bob Zion the goalie from the Toledo Thunderbirds."
By now the memory faucet was beginning to open. "Bob I'm embarrassed I didn't remember you". "That's okay," he said "I'm only about 120 pounds heavier and almost thirty years older. But I certainly remember you."
"You know, if it hadn't been for you and your brother I'd have ended up in jail or perhaps worse. I owe you guys a lot."
Although the memories began to clear I certainly had no recollection of influencing anyone's life like that!
Bob introduced me to his wife, a pretty lady who I'd taken for another of the participants in the seminar. "You know he feels he owes you a debt of gratitude" she began as Bob moved back to the podium, "and I'm very pleased to meet you".
As it turned out, Bob had spoken of my brother Chris and me many times relaying that it was "those guys" who drove me to all the practices and games. "Without them I would have never been able to play the game", he had said. "You see, Bob's family was very poor. His alcoholic father was pretty hard on him. He and his brother were raised by his mother who scrimped and saved to buy food for the family" she told.
"Your rides to games and practice, and your support gave him an outlet and an activity that eventually led him out of that life." Bob finished high school and eventually attended the University of Toledo graduating with a Masters Degree in Education.
How silly it seemed to me that our transportation provided those many years ago gave a kid the ride of his life. After all, we just wanted to make sure the goalie made it to the game. But it was Mom Bates who had asked that we pick up this kid. "He needs a ride boys and I want you to make sure you always pick him up".
And so every practice and game we picked up the skinny kid with the high water pants.
I made sure I picked up Bob's business card that day and when I got home I followed up on a hunch and found the Thunderbird team picture. I had been carrying two copies of that print around with me all these years for some unexplained reason. Of course I immediately sent a copy to Bob.
The black and white image sharpened the memories further. There was Bob Zion, all decked out in leather goalie equipment and black hockey sweater. And I was seated right next to him. - "The Ride of a Lifetime", Phil Bates '99 |
Donations can be made in Phil's memory to the "Philip Bates Alumni Scholarship Foundation Fund" at Walnut Hills High School.
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