Upper Iowa University Athletics Hall of Fame
Paul Tate received his B.A. from Upper Iowa University in 1937. He later earned his M.A. from Western State College of Colorado.
While at UIU, Tate lettered three times in basketball, football and track. He was also the captain of the basketball team in his senior year. He earned an Honorable Mention selection in for the All-Conference football team and was selected for the All-Conference basketball team.
Following graduation, Tate coached for ten years in Iowa at Elgin, Griswold and Jefferson. At Jefferson, he coached Dean Curtis, Jay Lynch, and George Richards, all UIU alumni. He was district manager for Moorman Manufacturing Company in Arcadia, Wisconsin from 1947-1948. From 1948 to 1974, he was the Assistant Principal and Athletic Director at LaJunta High School in LaJunta, CO. He coached for the Colorado All-State Football Game in 1949.
In football, his team won the Colorado State Championship in 1948 and in 1951. Also in 1948, 1951 and in 1955, his track teams won the Colorado State Championship.
Tate was inducted into the Colorado Coaches Hall of Fame, while LaJunta, in 1974, had “Paul Tate Day” and in 1976 he earned the National High School Athletic Coaches Association National Distinguished Service Award. The Tiger Relays, which he started, are now the oldest continuous relays in the state of Colorado and they were renamed the Paul Tate Tiger Relays in his honor. He was given a testimonial dinner and trip to Hawaii for his 25 years in LaJunta. Tate also served on the city council and Colorado High School Activities Association.
His wife, Maxine McKeighan Tate, is also a 1937 UIU graduate. Tate is now retired in LaJunta.
