Murray State University Athletics
Volunteer manager, football friend 'Red' Tate passes away Monday
10/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Former Murray State volunteer football equipment manager Nelson "Red" Tate died Monday at the age of 84. MSU head football coach Joe Pannunzio and former Racer head coach Denver Johnson attended Tate's funeral today in Metamora, Ill., together.
Tate's tenure helping the Racers began in 1997 with former head coach Denver Johnson and continued with current Racers coach Joe Pannunzio.
"Red was a great friend to me and the Racers," Pannunzio said. "He was always there for us."
"I remember he just showed up one day and said he was retired and wanted to volunteer," Johnson said. "There were many times when Red would be there for me to bounce things off of."
Tate was born in Fayette County, Ky., in 1920, and married Dorothy Wolfe in 1948. She passed away in 1990. He married Shirley Packard in 1991, and she survives him, as do two sons, Thomas and Larry, and three step-daughters, Sherri Lucas, Deanne Harms and Helen Packard.
A World War II veteran, he served in the 123rd Infantry in the Pacific Theater. He was a member of American Legion Post 89, the Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was a supervisor at Caterpillar Inc. in East Peoria, Ill., for 19 years, retiring in 1982, and was past president of the Metamora Park District.
He was a member of Taylor Lodge 98 and Scottish Rite Bodies, where he was a recipient of the Peoria Cross. He was a member of Mohammed Temple Shrine in Peoria, Ill., and was a past chairman of the East-West Shrine All-Star Football Game for the State of Illinois.
Pannunzio said the team and his staff are thankful that Tate was a part of the MSU football family.
"He traveled with us, and really got to know the kids," Pannunzio said. "We'll all miss him very much."
