Our Mission
Safety, efficiency and communication
Bates Utility goes above and beyond the general scope of work by providing and utilizing value engineering.
Learn more about SafetyWe prioritize completing quality projects within budget and on time.
Expect work executed safely, through close communication and quick problem-solving. Quality management and an organized operation allow us to meet project goals and grow as a company.
By keeping a close relationship with the owners, we have open communication, keeping the project efficient, organized and on time.
We implement Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity Plans (MBE utilization).
EmploymentOur History
Our founder, George Bates, was born on September 30, 1919, in the small town of Sullivan, Missouri. In 1925, his family moved to St. Louis, where, like many families, they endured the Great Depression.
After World War II, George came back to St. Louis and went to work for E.J. Fisher Plumbing and Contract Company, where he started as a truck driver and progressed to the Superintendent of all sewer work. In 1970, he left E.J. Fisher and accepted the position of Vice-President of Construction for Affholder Boring & Tunneling.
After five years, George bought out his two partners and moved the office to Westline Industrial Park Drive in the Westport area, where it remained until the move on July 31, 1999, to its present location of Westwood Industrial Park Drive, Weldon Spring.
On January 8, 1942, George married his high school sweetheart, Lorine Kamper. Two months later, he joined the Merchant Marine Service where he worked on ship engines for transport carriers during World War II.
On April 28, 1978, at the age of 60, George started Bates Utility Company along with two partners, Dick Gastorf and Richard McBride of McBride & Sons Home Builders. They ran their business from the office of McBride & Sons, located on Dorsett Road in Maryland Heights. Pat, Tom and Tim immediately joined forces with their father, and approximately one year later, Mike Bates became part of the team.
The Present and Future of Bates Utility Company
George passed away on December 24, 1991. Since then, his sons have committed full-time to managing their father’s company and continue his vision of quality and excellence in workmanship.
Two sons have since retired, leaving Tim, Tom and four other Bates boys working for the next generation. They surround themselves with eager, well-educated and experienced staff of project managers and estimators that wear numerous (hard) hats.