William Tate (academic)
Encyclopedia
William Tate served as the Dean
of Men at the University of Georgia
(UGA) in Athens
, Georgia
from 1946 until 1971.
William Tate was born in 1903 in Calhoun, Georgia
. His father, Philip May Tate, was a member of the Tate family that had developed the Georgia Marble Company in Pickens County, Georgia
, but Mr. Tate himself was a banker and farmer, having established the Calhoun National Bank. Upon his death in 1911 his widow, Mrs. Edna F. Tate, became President of the bank and managed the farm. William attended Fairmount High School and the Georgia Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1920. He entered the University of Georgia
, securing his A.B. degree in 1924 and his M.A. in 1927. He did graduate work at Columbia University
, Harvard University
and the University of Chicago
.
As an undergraduate Dean Tate was a member of the track team and a distance runner, holding the A.A.U. Cross Country Championship. He was Chapter President of the Phi Kappa Literary Society
and a holder of its speaking key. He was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi
, Sphinx, Delta Tau Delta
fraternity, and Omicron Delta Kappa
.
From 1924 to 1929 he was an instructor in English and Debate Coach at the University of Georgia
. From 1929 to 1936 he was Head of the English Department and Track Coach at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee
. In 1932 William Tate married Susan Frances Barrow, a granddaughter of University Chancellor David Barrow. They had two sons, Ben and Jeff. In 1936 he returned to the University of Georgia
as Dean of Freshmen and Assistant Professor of English. He was Dean of Students, Assistant to the President, and in 1946 became Dean of Men, a position he held for two decades.
Dean Tate was described as one of the University's ablest and most popular staff members since he served as the communication bridge between the University administration and the students. During his tenure as Dean of Men, Dean Tate had nearly unlimited authority over student conduct. He devoted much of his time to personal conferences with students, individually and in groups. He w as instrumental in the peaceful integration of the campus in 1961 by maintaining close supervision of student protestors. The University's first two African-American students were Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes.
Upon his retirement in 1971 Dean Tate joined the University's Alumni Office and embarked on an intensive public speaker career. His goal, in addition to raising money for the University, was to enhance citizens' understanding of the profound social changes that were occurring throughout the state and on the University campus in particular. Dean Tate brought his deep understanding of human nature to his narrations. He was a gifted story teller drawing upon a rich memory of events. In 1975 he published the volume Strolls Around Athens.
The Tate Student Center on the UGA campus was named in honor of Dean Tate, as well the Tate Academic Building at the McCallie School.
In 1990, the Dean William Tate Honor Society was formed as a lasting legacy to Dean Tate and his impact on students at the University of Georgia. It annually inducts the top twelve freshmen men and top twelve freshmen women at the University, determined through a comprehensive application and interview process.
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of Men at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
(UGA) in Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
from 1946 until 1971.
William Tate was born in 1903 in Calhoun, Georgia
Calhoun, Georgia
Calhoun is a city in Gordon County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 15,650. The city is the county seat of Gordon County.-Geography:Calhoun is located at , along the Oostanaula River....
. His father, Philip May Tate, was a member of the Tate family that had developed the Georgia Marble Company in Pickens County, Georgia
Pickens County, Georgia
Pickens County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The 2000 Census showed a population of 22,983. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 30,488...
, but Mr. Tate himself was a banker and farmer, having established the Calhoun National Bank. Upon his death in 1911 his widow, Mrs. Edna F. Tate, became President of the bank and managed the farm. William attended Fairmount High School and the Georgia Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1920. He entered the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, securing his A.B. degree in 1924 and his M.A. in 1927. He did graduate work at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
.
As an undergraduate Dean Tate was a member of the track team and a distance runner, holding the A.A.U. Cross Country Championship. He was Chapter President of the Phi Kappa Literary Society
Phi Kappa Literary Society
The Phi Kappa Literary Society is a college literary society, located at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.The Society was founded in 1820 by Joseph Henry Lumpkin, later to become the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia and eponym for the , and by William Crabbe, Edwin...
and a holder of its speaking key. He was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi
Phi Kappa Phi
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is an honor society established 1897 to recognize and encourage superior scholarship without restriction as to area of study and to promote the "unity and democracy of education"...
, Sphinx, Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta
Delta Tau Delta is a U.S.-based international secret letter college fraternity. Delta Tau Delta was founded in 1858 at Bethany College, Bethany, Virginia, . It currently has around 125 student chapters nationwide, as well as more than 25 regional alumni groups. Its national community service...
fraternity, and Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa
Omicron Delta Kappa, or ΟΔΚ, also known as The Circle, or more commonly ODK, is a national leadership honor society. It was founded December 3, 1914, at Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, by 15 student and faculty leaders. Chapters, known as Circles, are located on over 300...
.
From 1924 to 1929 he was an instructor in English and Debate Coach at the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
. From 1929 to 1936 he was Head of the English Department and Track Coach at the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
. In 1932 William Tate married Susan Frances Barrow, a granddaughter of University Chancellor David Barrow. They had two sons, Ben and Jeff. In 1936 he returned to the University of Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
as Dean of Freshmen and Assistant Professor of English. He was Dean of Students, Assistant to the President, and in 1946 became Dean of Men, a position he held for two decades.
Dean Tate was described as one of the University's ablest and most popular staff members since he served as the communication bridge between the University administration and the students. During his tenure as Dean of Men, Dean Tate had nearly unlimited authority over student conduct. He devoted much of his time to personal conferences with students, individually and in groups. He w as instrumental in the peaceful integration of the campus in 1961 by maintaining close supervision of student protestors. The University's first two African-American students were Charlayne Hunter and Hamilton Holmes.
Upon his retirement in 1971 Dean Tate joined the University's Alumni Office and embarked on an intensive public speaker career. His goal, in addition to raising money for the University, was to enhance citizens' understanding of the profound social changes that were occurring throughout the state and on the University campus in particular. Dean Tate brought his deep understanding of human nature to his narrations. He was a gifted story teller drawing upon a rich memory of events. In 1975 he published the volume Strolls Around Athens.
The Tate Student Center on the UGA campus was named in honor of Dean Tate, as well the Tate Academic Building at the McCallie School.
In 1990, the Dean William Tate Honor Society was formed as a lasting legacy to Dean Tate and his impact on students at the University of Georgia. It annually inducts the top twelve freshmen men and top twelve freshmen women at the University, determined through a comprehensive application and interview process.