Morris Bates, a native of Webster, S.D., was a multiple sport athlete during his time at NSU. He graduated from Northern State in 1963 with a degree in secondary education and again in 1964 with a degree in health and physical education history. He played football for the Wolves for four years, basketball for one year and tennis for two years. He also played basketball for the Wolf Pups his freshman year.
He proved his worth for a spot on the team when he, as a defensive end, hauled in a touchdown his freshman year. He collected a handful of honors in his four years on the Wolves football team including: All-SDIC Honor Team, All-SDIC Defensive Eleven, All-American first string end, AP Little All-American Honorable Mention End, All-SDIC End 1960, 1961, 1962, Exponent Player of the Year, and Mister’s Football Award. He was named “Northern’s Mr. Football” while he played under legendary NSU coach Clark Swisher.
During his single season on Northern’s basketball team he helped the team to their sixth straight SDIC title and a District 12 title under Coach Bob Wachs.
Bates was elected 1962 Marshal of the Gypsy Clan along with Queen Helen Hagen. He was also a member of N club. He was inducted into the Northern State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994 with his twin brother, Maurice Bates who also played football at Northern State.
