Howard Spencer Yates (3 May 1913 - 8 November 1989) was an Australian athlete who competed in the 1934 British Empire Games and in the 1938 British Empire Games.
In 1934 he was a member of the Australian relay team which finished fourth in the 4×110 yards event. In the 100 yards competition he finished sixth and in the 220 yards contest he was eliminated in the semi-finals.
At the 1938 Empire Games he won the bronze medal with the Australian relay team in the 4×110 yards event. In the 220 yards competition he finished fifth and in the 100 yards contest he finished sixth again.