Native Texan John Bates (pictured above) was named Executive Director by President Myna Potts shortly after the Downtown Medicine Mound Preservation Group was formed. Mr. Bates is a veteran 9-1-1 dispatcher, a professional digital photographer, nationally published writer, self-proclaimed rural history buff, and the organization's web master. John and his wife, Geri, have been married 26 years and have raised two fine boys into young men. In his "spare" time, John also helps raise and train AKC Champion Siberian Huskies and Saint Bernard show dogs under the SIBEX Kennels banner. For the DMMPG, he was the right man, at the right time, to help transform the Medicine Mound Museum into the "best little museum in Texas".

John's duties as Executive Director encompass nearly every aspect of non-profit operations, and he has been entrusted with much of our group's progress. Mr. Bates is also a driving force in the use of technology to reinvigorate the former village of Medicine Mound by drawing thousands of daily visitors to this web site. His studies in Photographic Technology and expertise as a digital photographer have brought many of the old photos in our custom web galleries back to life with digital retouching and restoration. Mr. Bates has dedicated much of the last two years to successfully putting Medicine Mound "back on the map", and continues to serve the Board of Directors to insure our vision and mission is carried forward.

A Personal Message From Executive Director John Bates

Medicine Mound is, simply stated, a magical place. For me, stepping through those old screen doors into the Medicine Mound Museum is akin to time travel - back to the days when farming, family, school, and faith were all a person had to pull them through the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl days, and hard times in general. One can't help but feel the nearby Medicine Mounds are a special, spiritual place, which simply adds to the aura of the remote location. You know, my grandfather taught me many valuable life lessons every summer, even as he "worked me like a rented mule" on his farm, and I try to bring that same work ethic to this project every single day.

Our entire group is working hard to save what's left of the little ghost town, and although we are making good progress there is still much yet to be accomplished. Our support base is growing incrementally, and we've aligned ourselves with some wonderful, like-minded organizations in the region that can only enhance our standing in the non-profit community. Folks are coming to realize that the collections contained in the Medicine Mound Museum represent a micrcosm of the rural lifestyle from the last county in Texas to be settled by outsiders. This young non-profit will, undoubtedly, experience some "growing pains" along the way, but through it all we are dedicated to making our visitor experience an intimate glimpse into the recent past that will linger long after leaving the museum. I sincerely encourage you all to visit at least once, and look forward to seeing you on the front porch of the old general store."