Pop Gates

William "Pop" Gates (b. August 30, 1917 in Decatur, Alabama – d. December 1, 1999) was a pro basketball player. After playing for the Harlem Renaissance for several years, beginning in 1938, he became one of the first black players in the NBL in 1946. Gates is one the few athletes who went directly from a high school championship team (Benjamin Franklin, New York, 1938) to a World Professional Champion (Rens, 1939).