2024 Hall of Fame Inductee
Larrie Bates demonstrated early leadership skills at Washburn University in his social fraternity Alpha Delta and the AFROTC Drill Team, Sagamore Men’s Honor Society, and the Kaw yearbook. He graduated with a BBA degree and was designated a Distinguished Military Graduate. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the USAF on the day of graduation. Larrie was a pilot in the USAF, progressing in rank from 2nd Lieutenant to Brigadier General. He accumulated a total of 8,500 flying hours of which 283 were combat support hours in Viet Nam. He completed the Air Command and Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. After retiring from the Air Force, Larrie joined the National Transportation and Safety Board at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. as the Safety Recommendation Program Administrator of Aviation where his team helped develop safety recommendations for both civilian and commercial aviation. Larrie served as a Trustee of Washburn University’s Foundation Board and his fraternity has awarded him an Alumni of the Year Award