Dr. James "Dennis" Coates PhD, 64, Lake Worth, FL
By: Gregory Hurt
Updated: February 20, 2013
Dr. James "Dennis" Coates PhD, 64, Lake Worth FL, Dean of the College of Business at Florida Atlantic University passed away on February 8, 2013. He was born January 5, 1949 in Mound City MO.
A 1967 graduate of Holt County RII High School in Mound City, MO, Dennis also graduated from Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville MO in 1971. He owned & operated the school transportation service in Savannah, South Holt & Avenue City and was regional director for Carpenter School Coaches before entering the doctoral program at LSU in 1982.
Dennis was named the outstanding graduate instructor for LSU's college of business in 1986. Also in 1986, he was named the outstanding graduate student for the state of Louisiana. He was a two time recipient of the Lloyd Morrison Award for excellence in Education. He received his PhD 1989.
Coates joined the College of Business as an assistant professor and rose through the ranks, eventually being named senior associate dean in 1996. He accepted the position as Dean for the College of Business in 2006.
Under Dean Coates' dedicated leadership, the College of Business underwent substantial development, being named one of the "Best Business Schools" by The Princeton Review for three years in a row, as well as one of America's "Top 50 Business Schools for Entrepreneurs" by Success magazine.
Dennis has not only had significant accomplishments in his professional life, but has touched the lives of many of the people he has met along the way with his giving & friendly nature.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Robert F. Coates and Jessie I (Hall) Coates, one brother, Robert Dean Coates, one sister, Martha Jane (Coates) Steeby, a niece, Denise Coates. A great niece and a great nephew.
Dennis is survived by two brothers, E. Jerome Coates (Garen), Norway, MI and Thomas C. Coates (Sharon), Stewartsville MO; two sisters, Mary A Muse (Tom), St Joseph , MO and Shannon K. Coates, St Joseph MO; sister-in-law, Karen Coates, Bethany, MO; brother-in-law, Clifford Steeby, Oregon, MO. He is also survived by his lifelong friend, Thomas W. McDaniel and numerous nieces & nephews, great nieces & nephews and great, great nieces & nephews plus friends & colleagues too numerous to mention.
Memorial Service: 2:30 P.M. Saturday, Mound City United Methodist Church. Inurnment Mt. Hope Cemetery. The family will receive friends 1:30 to 2:30 P.M. Saturday, Mound City United Methodist Church. For those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to Northwest Missouri State University. Care provided by Pettijohn & Crawford Family Funeral Services. Online guest book and obituary at www.pettijohncrawford.com.
A 1967 graduate of Holt County RII High School in Mound City, MO, Dennis also graduated from Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville MO in 1971. He owned & operated the school transportation service in Savannah, South Holt & Avenue City and was regional director for Carpenter School Coaches before entering the doctoral program at LSU in 1982.
Dennis was named the outstanding graduate instructor for LSU's college of business in 1986. Also in 1986, he was named the outstanding graduate student for the state of Louisiana. He was a two time recipient of the Lloyd Morrison Award for excellence in Education. He received his PhD 1989.
Coates joined the College of Business as an assistant professor and rose through the ranks, eventually being named senior associate dean in 1996. He accepted the position as Dean for the College of Business in 2006.
Under Dean Coates' dedicated leadership, the College of Business underwent substantial development, being named one of the "Best Business Schools" by The Princeton Review for three years in a row, as well as one of America's "Top 50 Business Schools for Entrepreneurs" by Success magazine.
Dennis has not only had significant accomplishments in his professional life, but has touched the lives of many of the people he has met along the way with his giving & friendly nature.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Robert F. Coates and Jessie I (Hall) Coates, one brother, Robert Dean Coates, one sister, Martha Jane (Coates) Steeby, a niece, Denise Coates. A great niece and a great nephew.
Dennis is survived by two brothers, E. Jerome Coates (Garen), Norway, MI and Thomas C. Coates (Sharon), Stewartsville MO; two sisters, Mary A Muse (Tom), St Joseph , MO and Shannon K. Coates, St Joseph MO; sister-in-law, Karen Coates, Bethany, MO; brother-in-law, Clifford Steeby, Oregon, MO. He is also survived by his lifelong friend, Thomas W. McDaniel and numerous nieces & nephews, great nieces & nephews and great, great nieces & nephews plus friends & colleagues too numerous to mention.
Memorial Service: 2:30 P.M. Saturday, Mound City United Methodist Church. Inurnment Mt. Hope Cemetery. The family will receive friends 1:30 to 2:30 P.M. Saturday, Mound City United Methodist Church. For those wishing to make a contribution, the family requests they be made to Northwest Missouri State University. Care provided by Pettijohn & Crawford Family Funeral Services. Online guest book and obituary at www.pettijohncrawford.com.
