Upper Iowa University Athletics

Floyd "Scoop" Tate was one of the most versatile athletes in Iowa Conference history. He won letters in four sports at Upper Iowa including four letters in football and basketball, and three letters in baseball and track. He was named to the All-Iowa Conference Football Team in 1934 as a guard, and then repeated in 1935 as a fullback. In 1934, he was one of four Iowa Conference players to be selected to the All-State Football Team by the Des Moines Register.
 
Tate led the Iowa Conference in scoring in 1935 with 73 points, more than double the total garnered by the runner-up. Upon graduation from Upper Iowa in 1936, he was signed to a professional contract by the New York Giants of the NFL, and the next season he started his Iowa prep coaching career at Lake Park, Iowa. He subsequently coached at Estherville and Spencer, and was at the latter place when he was fatally injured in an automobile accident in 1950 while driving to Fayette to attend the funeral services for his college landlady, Elizabeth (Mother) Luce.
 
While on campus, he was a member of the H.U.I. Fraternity, serving as president.
 
Floyd Tate served his country as a Naval Officer in World War II, and he was often cited by his coach, Doc Dorman, as “one of the two best football players I have ever coach.” He was one of four brothers who were prominent in athletics at Upper Iowa.
 
In his memory, Floyd’s wife, Charlotte Tate accepted the honor on his behalf.