Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Emory Andrew Tate I |
| Also known as | Emory A. Tate Sr., Emory Tate Sr. |
| Birth | November 20, 1918, Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia, USA |
| Death | November 17, 2008, VA Medical Center, Battle Creek, Michigan, USA, age 89 |
| Parents | Robert Tate and Lizzie Blackwell Tate |
| Military service | U.S. Army, World War II, European Theater |
| Education | John Marshall Law School, Chicago, studied under the G.I. Bill |
| Admission to bar | Illinois Bar, 1951 |
| Legal career | Private practice attorney in Chicago, 1951 to 1999; nearly a 50-year career |
| Professional membership | Illinois State Bar Association |
| Veterans affiliation | Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Decatur, Alabama |
| Spouses | Emma Lillian Cox Tate, 1929 to 2025; later, Burnetta Tate, born 1927 |
| Children | Emory Andrew Tate Jr., 1958 to 2015; Emory Denise Tate (Brown); Katherine Tate (Lelias); Katrinka Tate (Trail); Elizabeth Diane Tate (Norwood) |
| Grandchildren | Emory Andrew Tate III, born 1986; Tristan Tate, born 1988; Janine Tate, born 1992 |
| Siblings | Eloise Brooks; Malaria Foster; Melvee Everhart |
| Interests | Poetry, farming, chess |
Roots in Rural Georgia
On November 20, 1918, in Elberton, Georgia, hard work and faith gave birth to Emory Andrew Tate I. On a tenant farm, Robert and Lizzie Tate raised him with duties and resolution every morning. Sharecropping taught Robert and his family patience and tenacity. A profession built on discipline and public service would grow from that perseverance.
Like many early to mid-20th-century Southern families, the Tates looked north. The Great Migration changed life, and Emory Sr.’s family’s journey led him away from his childhood fields. Rural Georgia taught him lifelong habits. Pages of legal briefs replaced furrows in dirt.
Soldier to Scholar: World War II and the G.I. Bill
When the US entered WWII, Tate joined. Army and European Theater service. He saw the world through a wide lens after serving abroad and facing danger. Those years gave him steel and respect for institutions that maintained their commitments.
Post-war G.I. Bill was his career bridge. At Chicago’s John Marshall Law School, Tate traded uniforms for casebooks and lectures. Study and discipline led to Illinois Bar admission in 1951. Soldier to lawyer was a refinement of the past. He faced courtrooms and client meetings with the same quiet determination he had during the war.
Nearly Half a Century at the Bar
From 1951 to 1999, Emory Tate Sr. practiced law in Chicago. His nearly 50 years at the bar made him a legal pillar. His colleagues called him a respected Chicago lawyer, indicating years of experience. He practiced privately, used discretion, and built confidence with customers who needed a loud voice in complex environments.
A indication of professional participation and ethical dedication, he was active in the Illinois State Bar Association until his 1999 retirement. His specialized areas were not well acknowledged, typical of older practitioners who value service above pomp. At heart, he was a working lawyer who adhered to his calling.
Family at a Glance
Tate’s family story reflects continuity across generations, with law, learning, and chess forming a common thread.
| Relationship | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Father | Robert Tate | Sharecropper in Georgia |
| Mother | Lizzie Blackwell Tate | Raised the family in rural Georgia |
| First spouse | Emma Lillian Cox Tate | 1929 to 2025, mother of his only son |
| Second spouse | Burnetta Tate | Born 1927, survived him |
| Son | Emory Andrew Tate Jr. | 1958 to 2015, International Master of chess |
| Daughter | Emory Denise Tate | Married name Brown, Macon, Georgia |
| Daughter | Katherine Tate | Married name Lelias, Irvine, California |
| Daughter | Katrinka Tate | Married name Trail, Antioch, California |
| Daughter | Elizabeth Diane Tate | Married name Norwood, Munster, Indiana |
| Grandson | Emory Andrew Tate III | Born 1986 |
| Grandson | Tristan Tate | Born 1988 |
| Granddaughter | Janine Tate | Born 1992 |
| Sister | Eloise Brooks | Survived him |
| Sister | Malaria Foster | Survived him |
| Sister | Melvee Everhart | Survived him |
Poetry, Chess, and the Family Hearth
Law paid bills. Poetry fueled souls. Chess boosted intelligence. Tate’s life included briefs, hearings, meter, metaphor, and 64 squares. He wrote extensively, cherishing language’s accuracy as he did law. His love of farming remained from his boyhood. He balanced days by maintaining soil and phrases.
Father-son chess become a family tradition. At home, he taught the game using imagination and calculation at kitchen tables. His tactically gifted son, Emory Andrew Tate Jr., became an International Master. Grandchildren also know the board. Stories of knights on the board and in uniform were important to Emory Andrew Tate III, Tristan, and Janine. Long-lasting lessons: discipline, ingenuity, and fortitude in difficult situations.
Service and Civic Ties
Tate’s service continued after discharge. He maintained a lifelong wartime friendship with fellow soldiers at a soldiers of Foreign Wars post in Decatur, Alabama. Veterans’ circles gave him fellowship and continuity, while professional life gave him structure. Chicago courts and veterans’ halls shaped his adulthood, with family at the heart.
Extended Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| November 20, 1918 | Born in Elberton, Georgia |
| 1941 to 1945 | Served in the U.S. Army in the European Theater during World War II |
| Late 1940s | Studied law in Chicago using the G.I. Bill |
| 1951 | Admitted to the Illinois Bar |
| December 27, 1958 | Birth of his only son, Emory Andrew Tate Jr., in Chicago |
| 1951 to 1999 | Practiced law in Chicago private practice |
| 1999 | Retired from active practice |
| November 17, 2008 | Died at the VA Medical Center in Battle Creek, Michigan, age 89 |
Later Years and Passing
After 1999, retirement was quieter. Working rhythms gave way to family visits and reflection. He died at the Battle Creek VA Medical Center on November 17, 2008, after a long illness. He turned 89 three days before his 90th birthday. His wife Burnetta and three younger sisters survived him, proving his family’s longevity.
His legacy endures in the memory of clients who valued his counsel, in the lines of poems he set down for himself, and in the chess stories that became family lore. Chicago knew him as a durable attorney. His descendants know him as a guide whose life fused work, duty, and art.
FAQ
Who was Emory Andrew Tate I?
He was a Chicago attorney, World War II veteran, poet, and family patriarch who practiced law for nearly five decades.
When and where was he born?
He was born on November 20, 1918, in Elberton, Elbert County, Georgia.
What did he do during World War II?
He served in the U.S. Army in the European Theater, then used the G.I. Bill to pursue legal studies.
When did he become a lawyer?
He was admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1951 after studying at John Marshall Law School in Chicago.
How long did he practice law?
He practiced from 1951 to 1999, nearly 48 years in private practice.
What professional organizations did he belong to?
He was a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and was active in veterans’ circles, including a VFW post in Decatur, Alabama.
Who were his spouses?
He married Emma Lillian Cox Tate and later married Burnetta Tate, who survived him.
How many children did he have?
He had five children, including his only son, International Master of chess Emory Andrew Tate Jr., and four daughters.
Who are his well-known grandchildren?
His grandchildren include Emory Andrew Tate III, Tristan Tate, and Janine Tate.
When and where did he die?
He died on November 17, 2008, at the VA Medical Center in Battle Creek, Michigan, at age 89.
