C. Valentine Bates, PGER
September 24, 1942 - May 1, 2019
Grand Exalted Ruler from Florida: 1998-1999
“Growth Through Dedication and Service”
A Man with No Bounds
Charles Valentine Bates was born in Leesburg, Fla. Sept. 24, 1942. He attended public schools in Ocala and Live Oak, Fla., graduating from Suwannee High School in 1960. He attended the University of Florida and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a regular commission in the United States Air Force in 1964. After receiving communications intelligence training, he was assigned to the National Security Agency as a communications intelligence officer serving in Texas, Okinawa and at Strategic Air Command Headquarters in Omaha, Neb. While serving in Okinawa, he was awarded the Joint Services Commendation Medal for meritorious service during the Vietnam War.
Bates left the Air Force in 1968 to return to the University of Florida Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctor degree in 1970. He joined the Elks in 1974 and was elected exalted ruler of Gainesville Lodge #990 in 1976. He served for many years as the Lodge presiding justice, served the Lodge on numerous committees, was instrumental in the construction of the new Lodge facility, was elected Elk of the Year in 1980, and became an honorary life member in 1994.
Bates has served the Florida State Elks Association in several capacities. He has been a member of the Judiciary Committee in excess of 17 years, served as its chairman for eight years, and was Legal Advisor for the Harry-Anna Investment Fund for 10 years. He served as vice president of the northeast district in 1988, vice president at large in 1992-1993 and state president in 1993-1994. He was chairman of the Past State Presidents Advisory Council in 1996-1997.
On the Grand Lodge level, Bates served as district deputy grand exalted ruler for the Florida northeast district in 1990-1991. In 1991 he was appointed to the Grand Lodge Judiciary Committee and served until 1994 when he was elected to the Board of Grand Trustees. He served the board as secretary, building applications/east member, home member and chairman.
As a practicing attorney for nearly 40 years, Val served his state as a member of the Governor’s Council on Criminal Justice and his community as chairman of the Santa Fe Work Release Center Advisory Committee. He is a recognized expert in the field of commercial law litigation, lecturing on the subject as well as writing a published text for the Continuing Legal Education lecture series. He is also a Florida Supreme Court certified mediator. He is admitted to practice before all Florida courts as well as the United States Supreme Court and the United States Court of Claims.
Val is a Mason and holds membership in the York Rite and Scottish Rite and the Morocco Shrine Temple. He and his wife, the former Claudia Prince MacKenzie, are members of the McIntosh Presbyterian Church. Both sons, Jeffrey and Jay, and his daughter, Lisa, are Elks.