On Friday, a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony will be held in honor of the late Kenneth Bates, as the Second Street Community Center is renamed in his memory.
According to a news release, the ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. Friday and is open to the public—this center was chosen to bear Bates’ name, as the reach and support it offers the community will continue his legacy to the many people who utilize it.
Bates, who served as a magistrate on Christian Fiscal Court from 2015 to 2018, as well-known and well-loved in the community, serving on numerous boards, including the then Human Relations Commission, director of the Christian County Sickle Cell Board, past president of the Hopkinsville Eastside Neighborhood Association, Hopkinsville Transportation Advisory Committee, Boys & Girls Club Steering Committee and the Hopkinsville-Christian County Airport Board. He served as president of the local NAACP at the time of his passing.
He also hosted a gospel music show for many, many years, including Love and Fellowship on WHOP for over 45 years and he had similar shows on Missionary Radio.