‘Peg Leg’ Bates; Tap Dancer Overcame Loss of Leg

Clayton “Peg Leg” Bates, who became a nationally acclaimed tap dancer despite having lost a leg in a childhood accident, has died at 91.

Bates, who learned to dance with a wooden leg and performed on “The Ed Sullivan Show” 22 times, died Sunday in Greenville, S.C., on his way to church.

His death occurred one day after he was awarded South Carolina’s highest honor, the Order of the Palmetto, at ceremonies in his hometown of Fountain Inn. Bates danced at the city celebration.

At age 5, Bates was already known around Fountain Inn as the little boy who danced on the streets for pennies and nickels.

He lost his left leg when he was 12 in an accident in a cotton mill. His uncle whittled a wooden leg for him and Bates learned to dance with it, making that his trademark.

Bates performed on stages across the country and throughout Europe, including appearances before the king and queen of England.

Bates officially retired in 1989, but continued to dance for groups of young people, senior citizens and the handicapped.

The Peg Leg Bates Foundation has been formed to create a life-size sculpture of the dancer at Fountain Inn’s City Hall.