Photo courtesy of Society of Entrepreneurs Memphis
A Memphis man was killed in a single-engine airplane crash Monday morning in Mercer, according to multiple news outlets and law enforcement agencies.
The pilot was identified as Memphis community and civic leader George Cates. The Madison County Fire Department received a call about the plane crash around 8:45 a.m. Monday.
According to the Society of Entrepreneurs Memphis:
“George Cates’ success stemmed from recognizing the talents of those around him and developing a productive group to make vision become reality. George made a name for himself in the real estate world, beginning with the creation of the Cates Company in 1977. In 1994, the company went public as Mid-America Apartment Communities, Inc., now MAA on the New York Stock Exchange, with George as Chairman and CEO. MAA now owns and operates 83,641 apartment homes throughout the southern tier and eastern seaboard of the U.S.
Cates retired from MAA in 2003 and is dedicated to civic interests, having chaired the boards of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, the Memphis Rotary Club, Memphis Light Gas & Water, the Memphis Symphony, Memphis Research Consortium, and others. He presently chairs Neighborhood Preservation, Inc. and serves on the boards of the Overton Park Conservancy, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, and the University of Tennessee.”
Cates founded his business in 1977. He described his business as a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and operates 83,641 apartment homes throughout the eastern seaboard and the southern tier of the U.S.
The Memphis Botanic Garden posted the following message after learning of Cates’ death:
“We mourn the loss of Memphis Botanic Garden’s former Board President and long-time community leader George Cates. We offer his wife, Bena, and all of his family our prayers and condolences.”
The Overton Park Conservatory team posted the following message on Facebook:
“Words are wholly inadequate to describe the grief the Overton Park Conservancy team is feeling at the loss of our founding board member, George Cates. We will be eternally grateful for his passionate belief that Memphians deserved a world-class public space, which led to the creation of this organization ten years ago. His vision continues to shape the park’s future, as he spearheaded the effort to transform the Overton Park golf course.
Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland tweet the following statement after learning that Cates had been killed in the plane crash:
“So saddened by this news. George Cates gave so much to Memphis, including creating a successful business and leading the efforts on the creation of @overtonpark Conservancy. My prayers are with his family.”
So saddened by this news. George Cates gave so much to Memphis, including creating a successful business and leading the efforts on the creation of @overtonpark Conservancy. My prayers are with his family. https://t.co/HE4crl9r9p
— Jim Strickland (@JStrick901) June 21, 2021