Robert "Robby" L. Bates, CFSP, owner of Bates Family Funeral Home in De Kalb, Texas, is the 2012-13 president-elect of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA).

As president-elect, Bates will assist the Association's president with his duties and, in his absence, will preside over the NFDA Executive Board, Policy Board, House of Delegates, International Convention & Expo, Leadership Conference and Advocacy Summit. Bates will represent NFDA and its mission at state funeral association conventions, and will serve on several committees and subcommittees.

A Certified Funeral Service Professional, Bates graduated as class valedictorian from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science and received his BBA and MBA from East Texas State University-Texarkana. A long-time member of the Texas Funeral Directors Association, Bates has served his state association in many ways and has been an active member on several committees, such as Nominations, By-laws, Resolutions, Budget, Ethics and Long-range Planning.

After serving as the 2002-03 president of the Texas Funeral Directors Association, Bates went on to serve as his state's representative to the NFDA Policy Board.

Bates has taken on many roles with NFDA, including serving on several committees, such as Spokesperson, Operations, Audit and Budget. He served as an inaugural member of NFDA's Professional Conduct Committee. Bates has served as an at-large representative, secretary and treasurer on NFDA's Executive Board.

Business Information

Bates Family Funeral Home
582 US Hwy 259 South
DeKalb, TX 75559-0368
Phone: 903-667-2009
Fax: 903-667-3485
Email: rducks@aol.com