Les Goates

Les Goates was a journalist and worked at the Deseret News from 1919 to 1964 as a reporter, sports editor, and editorial writer. He wrote a daily column that ran for 44 years.

He helped organize the Utah-Idaho Baseball League and the Pioneer League. His writing helped him win the Hot Stove League award for services rendered as a writer and official scorer in the Pacific Coast League for 30 years.

Goates founded the Utah State High School Honor Team in basketball. He was influential in organizing the M-Men basketball program of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Goates was born on February 10, 1894, and died on April 17, 1975. He and his wife, Leda Meryl Kirkham, had five children.

He was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame in 1991.