Caleb Frank Gates (1903-1955), born in Constantinople (now Istanbul), received his early education at Roberts College in Istanbul. His father served as President of the Institution. Gates came to the United States in 1919 and attended the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania for three years. In 1926, he graduated with honors from Princeton University and continued his studies under a Rhodes scholarship at Balliol College in Oxford. In 1928, while attending college, Gates married Elizabeth Farnum in England. They raised four children: Caleb Jr., Betsy Ann, Mary Ellen, and Gwynne.

The couple returned to Turkey after Gates graduated from Balliol College with both B. A. and M. A. degrees. He taught history and served as Headmaster of the preparatory school at Roberts College from 1932-1933. Gates returned to Princeton for a year of graduate work in history and was eventually appointed History Instructor at Princeton. He also served as Assistant Dean for three years until 1939, when the Dean of the College became incapacitated and the full responsibility of the office rested with Gates. In 1941, Gates accepted the position of Chancellor at the University of Denver.

Gates served two terms as Chancellor of the University of Denver, from 1941-1943 and 1946-1947. He joined numerous organizations including the University Club of Denver, Denver Press Club, American Alpine Club, Princeton Club, American Historical Society, Colorado Education Society, and the Foreign Policy Association. Gates and his first wife, Elizabeth Farnum, divorced in 1954. He remarried in 1955, to Mable Ridge and they relocated to California. Gates died December 21, 1955.