Charlie Yates (right)
and Bobby Jones

Charlie Yates was a champion golfer, yet he also was a champion of the arts, his community and of his alma mater.

Charles R. Yates, GS 35, British Amateur winner, Atlanta Arts Alliance leader and Georgia Tech Centennial Campaign chairman, died Oct. 17 at his Atlanta home. He was 92.

Mr. Yates grew up in East Lake and began golfing at age 6, picking up tips from the hero he followed around the course just outside his back door. The hero was Bobby Jones, who would become Mr. Yates' longtime friend.

Jones supported his protege just as Mr. Yates celebrated the successes of his mentor. In September 1927, Mr. Yates, who won his first cup at age 11 in the city junior tournament, was greeted by Jones on his return from the third of his four U.S. Amateur championships. The photograph of them shaking hands appeared on the cover of Mid-Week Pictorial.

Mr. Yates also followed Jones, ME 22, to Tech, where, like the Grand Slam champion, he was a standout on the golf team. He won the Georgia State Amateur championship in 1931 and 1932 and the NCAA individual title in 1934.

Mr. Yates built a successful career in the banking, textile and railroad industries before Mayor Ivan Allen, also a Tech alumnus, convinced him to retire at age 60 and take the helm of the Atlanta Arts Alliance, which he steered for a decade. During his tenure, the annual budget grew from $3.8 million to $16.3 million. Mr. Yates also led the effort to raise $20 million to build the High Museum.

He served as president of the Alumni Association in 1952-53 and of the Georgia Tech Foundation from 1975 to 1977. In 1984 he received the Alumni Distinguished Service Award.

He was inducted into the Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame in 1959. In 1980 he was presented the Bob Jones Award by the U.S. Golf Association. He was inducted into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1998 the public course at East Lake opened bearing his name.

Mr. Yates is survived by Dorothy, his wife of 61 years, four children and five grandchildren. Other survivors include a brother, Dan Yates, IM 41, of Atlanta, also a golfer in the Georgia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame.

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