Cameron Herschel Gates
12/03/1937 - 12/15/2024
Cameron Herschel Gates passed peacefully on December 15, 2024. He was born in Houston, Texas, to Edith and Herschel Gates on December 3, 1937. He grew up in Baytown, Texas, where he attended Robert E. Lee High School and was a star football player for the Ganders. Cameron excelled as a running back and linebacker and was recognized as a high school all-American football player. He was recruited by the University of Texas, among other universities, and he received a scholarship to play football at the University. While at the University of Texas, he earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in geological sciences and courted his future wife, Elaine Bruce. He married Elaine and they had three children: Bruce, Brock, and Lynne. Before his marriage to Elaine, he had a daughter, Sheila which gave Bruce joy that he had an older sister. Prior to starting his business career, he served as a second lieutenant in the US Army. Cameron went on to have a successful career as a petroleum geologist and businessman. He started his career with Exxon. Later, he joined up with his college roommate, Jim Bob Moffet and helped build McMoran into a preeminent offshore exploration and production company. Cameron remarried, and their union brought them his youngest child, Cameron H. Gates Jr. Cameron spent the last 13 years in the loving arms of Linda Solook, whom he loved dearly and who made his later years a blessing. Cameron is preceded in death by his mother and father, his brother, Buddy Gates, and his son, Brock Gates. He is survived by his children, Sheila Alloway, Bruce Gates, Lynne DiFrancesco, and Cameron Gates Jr., eight grandchildren, his sister, Yslita Brewer, and many nephews and nieces, as well as his loving partner, Linda Solook. Cameron lived a full life always keeping his children close to him, teaching us most of what we know. He worked hard, played hard, and got the most out of life, and in the end, he simply ran out of juice. Rest in peace, Dad. WE LOVE YOU.