In Memory Of
Harry R Yates
1948
2021
Harry R Yates
August 22, 1948 — July 23, 2021
Harry R. "Bob" Yates, age 72, passed away on Friday, July 23, 2021. Bob retired in 1993 as spokesman for the former Jefferson County Police Department after 22 years, seven of which he served in the press office of two County Judge/Executives, Harvey I. Sloane, whom he greatly admired, and Dave Armstrong.
Following the police department, Bob joined Dismas Charities, Inc. as their Vice President of Public Relations, retiring in 2013. In 2019, Dismas bestowed on him their highest honor, the Father Diersen Award. He has also been recognized or received awards from Who's Who in Law Enforcement, and the Kentucky and National Associations of Counties.
A U.S. Navy Vietnam War veteran, Bob was also a member of Swigert-Middletown Masonic Lodge, Middletown United Methodist Church, the Kentucky Council on Crime and Delinquency, the International Community Corrections Association, and a former member of the USO Board of Directors.
As police spokesman, Bob worked closely with the Secret Service and the White House Press Corps on eight Presidential visits to Louisville and a Derby visit to Louisville by Princess Grace and Lord Snowden.
In 1991, while serving as Press Secretary to a County Judge/Executive, Bob invented an environmental trivia game endorsed by Horn Abbott, Ltd. the Trivial Pursuit Game owners. The game, known as Eco-Facts, was used in the local Kentucky Derby Festival Recall Competition and in contests locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Bob and three other law enforcement media representatives co-authored a news media guide for the FBI, a document still in use by that agency.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Frances Yates.
Survivors include his wife, Cherie; daughters, Kimberly McDonald, Meghan Biggs and Courtney Confer; son, Tom Fawbush; brothers, Chet Yates and Jim Williams, and nine grandchildren.
Services are private.
Expressions of sympathy may take form of contributions to Dismas Charities, Inc. or the Masonic Lodge.
To leave a special message for the family, please use the "Share Memories" button.
Following the police department, Bob joined Dismas Charities, Inc. as their Vice President of Public Relations, retiring in 2013. In 2019, Dismas bestowed on him their highest honor, the Father Diersen Award. He has also been recognized or received awards from Who's Who in Law Enforcement, and the Kentucky and National Associations of Counties.
A U.S. Navy Vietnam War veteran, Bob was also a member of Swigert-Middletown Masonic Lodge, Middletown United Methodist Church, the Kentucky Council on Crime and Delinquency, the International Community Corrections Association, and a former member of the USO Board of Directors.
As police spokesman, Bob worked closely with the Secret Service and the White House Press Corps on eight Presidential visits to Louisville and a Derby visit to Louisville by Princess Grace and Lord Snowden.
In 1991, while serving as Press Secretary to a County Judge/Executive, Bob invented an environmental trivia game endorsed by Horn Abbott, Ltd. the Trivial Pursuit Game owners. The game, known as Eco-Facts, was used in the local Kentucky Derby Festival Recall Competition and in contests locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. Bob and three other law enforcement media representatives co-authored a news media guide for the FBI, a document still in use by that agency.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Chester and Frances Yates.
Survivors include his wife, Cherie; daughters, Kimberly McDonald, Meghan Biggs and Courtney Confer; son, Tom Fawbush; brothers, Chet Yates and Jim Williams, and nine grandchildren.
Services are private.
Expressions of sympathy may take form of contributions to Dismas Charities, Inc. or the Masonic Lodge.
To leave a special message for the family, please use the "Share Memories" button.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Harry R Yates, please visit our flower store.
Celebrating The Life Of
Harry R Yates
A beautifully bound keepsake book filled with memories and condolences from family and friends.
Share Your Memory
Contribute your memory to the online guestbook to be featured in this unique keepsake book.
Guestbook
Visits: 25
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors