Al Bates, owner and operator of Wyandotte, MI-based Second Step Advertising (asi/522735) for 45 years, passed away on Nov. 23 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was 67.

The Detroit native was a former president and hall-of-fame member of the Michigan Promotional Products Association. He was also a member and past president of the Southern Wayne Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“He will be missed and is completely irreplaceable,” says Melanie Hojnowski, director of operations at Second Step Advertising. “We’re absolutely heartbroken over here, but his wishes were for us to keep operating and serving our clients. We will be doing so for the foreseeable future, and have no plans to sell the business at this time. It’s going to be weird here without him at the helm, always smiling and cracking jokes, but he’s still here in spirit and we’re going keep on truckin’. It’s what he wanted.”

Bates is survived by his children, Alexa and Debbie; sisters Claudette and Maureen; and other loving family and friends.

His funeral service was held Dec. 1. Memorial contributions to honor his life may be made as the donor chooses.