Although he never wrestled or coached, Charlie Bates has had a profound effect on the sport of wrestling in the state of Oklahoma. For 16 years, beginning in 1980, he served as a USA Wrestling Pairing Master, earning his Grade Level 1 Exceptional. He served as the USA Team Pairing Master for the World Championships in Tokyo in 1990 and was the Military Championships Pairing Master from 1986-1990. But it was as a state leader that he truly made his mark. Bates was instrumental in starting the Oklahoma/ USA Wrestling Club which still governs freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling in the state today. He was among the founders of USA Wrestling's national dual championships, a tournament that has grown from only eight teams in 1993 to including 40 teams from all across the country today. He served as state chairman for USA Wrestling and earned an award for the largest increase in membership of any state in the association. During his stint as state chairman, he was honored as USA Wrestling State Chairman of the Year. Bates retired from officiating in 1997, but still actively supports the Oklahoma State University Wrestling Club. For his lifetime of service to the sport in the state, Charlie Bates is honored by the Oklahoma Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.