Retired Madera County Sheriff Edward Bryant Bates, a towering figure in local law enforcement and a key leader during one of the county’s most harrowing moments, has died at the age of 99.

Bates passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday.

Madera County Sheriff Tyson Pogue said that Bates was born Nov. 3, 1925, in Modesto, and began his service to the country early, joining the Merchant Marines at 16 during World War II and later serving in Naval Intelligence.

He launched his law enforcement career in Stanislaus County, where he became a respected investigator and polygraph expert, Pogue said.

Bates was elected Madera County sheriff on his 45th birthday in 1970, going on to serve three terms. He earned national recognition for his leadership during the 1976 Chowchilla school bus kidnapping, in which 26 children and their bus driver were abducted and later rescued.

Bates was married to Freda June Ball for 57 years.

“Sheriff Bates leaves behind a legacy defined by fearless leadership, unwavering principles, and a lifelong commitment to public service,” Pogue said in the statement. “His life serves as a beacon for all in law enforcement, reminding us of the profound difference one dedicated individual can make.”

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