Mercedes Alison Bates

image of Mercedes Bates from mid-80s Mercedes A. Bates, a 1936 OSU graduate and native of Portland who lives in Minneapolis, Minn., retired in 1984 from her position with General Mills as vice president and director of the Betty Crocker Food and Nutrition Center.

Ms. Bates began work at the Southern California Gas Company and became supervisor of home service. She moved to Globe Mills foods company and then opened her own business in Hollywood as an advertising food consultant. She learned the art of appetizing food presentation for black and white print and television adds, which eventually resulted in a television show for her.

After a stint as food editor for McCall's, she joined General Mills in 1964 as director of the Betty Crocker Kitchens. She was a elected a vice president of General Mills in 1966, the first woman officier in that corporation's history and one of the first in the food industry.

At General Mills, she directed a staff of specialists engaged in the work of the Betty Crocker food services, nutrition, publications and publicity, consumer response and microwave activities.

OSU has honored her with both its Distinguished Alumni Award and Distinguished Service Award. She also won the Hope Chamberlin Award from the journalism department for outstanding achievements in home economics communication and was the first Distinguished Alumnus of the Home Economics Alumni Association.

Bates is past president of the American Home Economics Association and its foundation and was active in the national Home Economists in Business section, the Consumer Affairs Committee of the Grocery Manufacturers of America, Inc., the Minnesota Better Business Bureau and was on the board of the Minnesota Gas Company.


	Limit results to this site.		Health and Human Sciences » Human Development and Family Sciences » Family Study Center » Mercedes Alison Bates Mercedes Alison Bates Mercedes A. Bates, a 1936 OSU graduate and native of Portland who lives in Minneapolis, Minn., retired in 1984 from her position with General Mills as vice president and director of the Betty Crocker Food and Nutrition Center. Ms. Bates began work at the Southern California Gas Company and became supervisor of home service. She moved to Globe Mills foods company and then opened her own business in Hollywood as an advertising food consultant. She learned the art of appetizing food presentation for black and white print and television adds, which eventually resulted in a television show for her. After a stint as food editor for McCall's, she joined General Mills in 1964 as director of the Betty Crocker Kitchens. She was a elected a vice president of General Mills in 1966, the first woman officier in that corporation's history and one of the first in the food industry. At General Mills, she directed a staff of specialists engaged in the work of the Betty Crocker food services, nutrition, publications and publicity, consumer response and microwave activities. OSU has honored her with both its Distinguished Alumni Award and Distinguished Service Award. She also won the Hope Chamberlin Award from the journalism department for outstanding achievements in home economics communication and was the first Distinguished Alumnus of the Home Economics Alumni Association. Bates is past president of the American Home Economics Association and its foundation and was active in the national Home Economists in Business section, the Consumer Affairs Committee of the Grocery Manufacturers of America, Inc., the Minnesota Better Business Bureau and was on the board of the Minnesota Gas Company.