Gates celebrates 50 years in Iola

Gates Corporation celebrated its 50 years in Iola with a company picnic Saturday at Riverside Park.
Jason Ferraro, 7, enjoys lunch while his sister, Julie Ferraro, 12, scans her bingo card during The Gates Corporation’s 50th anniversary celebration in Iola Saturday in Riverside Park. Photo by Bob Johnson / Iola Register
by Bob Johnson – The Iola Register
Published: August 10, 2026
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Gates Corporation celebrated its 50 years in Iola with a company picnic Saturday at Riverside Park.

Iola High School wrestlers Berjonley Seance, from left, Alston Nelson and Kale Pratt grill hot dogs for the Gates Corporation’s 50th anniversary celebration in Iola Saturday.

Gates Corporation had more than a picnic and games Saturday in Riverside Park. The event recognized the company’s 50th anniversary as an industrial anchor in Iola.

Having the park’s Community Building as their central hub, participants could thumb their noses at the oppressive weather.

The Little Theater, connected to a basketball court on the east end of the building, served double duty as people dined on fresh-off-the-grill hot dogs as well as enjoyed games of bingo.

Bob Johnson – The Iola Register

Bob Johnson has been with the Register since July 1964, including the past few years in a less demanding role. He continues to write his Saturday column at Week’s End, which began in 1972, and occasionally other things. During Bob’s tenure he has written sports, features, general news and editorials. He often has supported his writing with photographs. His institutional knowledge of what occurred in the past is a valuable asset for the Register and its reporters’ mission to tell the story of Iola and Allen County.

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