Floyd Bates has been married to his wife Eldonna for 33 years and together they have 5 wonderful children and 7 grandchildren. After high school, Floyd worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad before furthering his education with a degree in Business Administration from Sam Houston State University. Following graduation, Floyd immediately went to work for Frito-Lay, Inc. for a brief time until he began working in the oil field with the Western Company of N.A.; however, during the industry downturn in 1984, it was time to move home to Texas, entering into the commercial real estate business, where he has been for the last 39 years. Floyd has started several successful businesses, but the one he is most proud of is Bates & Myers Company, a commercial real estate company he and his partner, Richard Myers, formed in 1991 and now operates throughout the Metroplex and Ellis County. Floyd looks forward to meeting new people and making more friends, while keenly aware that lasting relationships only come through hard work, integrity, and perseverance. He still believes and lives by his favorite Scripture, “The integrity of the upright will guide them” – Proverbs 11:3.