MG (Ret) Grayson D. Tate, Jr. of Huntsville, AL passed away on Nov. 6, 2024. He was born January 15, 1929, in Mickey, TX, son of the late Grayson D. and Viola Hope Tate. Grayson was raised in Lockney & Denver City, TX, but headed north to West Point, NY where he graduated from the United States Military Academy in June 1950 earning a Bachelor of Science degree. Additionally, he holds a BS and MS degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Georgia Tech. He married Anne Hashagen of Darien, CT in June 1950. Tate served in the US Army for 35 years retiring as a two-star Major General and was a veteran of the Korean War. He had a long association with guided missiles, nuclear weapons and research & development with commands at Ft. Sill, OK, Redstone Arsenal, AL, Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM, Kwajalein Missile Range in the Marshall Islands and Korea. His decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal; The Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; The Defense Superior Service Medal; the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, The Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
After his retirement from the Army in 1985, he worked at CAS, Inc. in Huntsville as a Special Assistant for Missile Defense for 8 years. He was an avid golfer for decades and an enthusiastic supporter of the many sports teams of USMA. GO ARMY! BEAT NAVY!
MG Tate played a vital role in the establishment of the Huntsville Madison County Veterans Memorial which honors & pays tribute to all Veterans of US conflicts and wars. He was an active member of the Huntsville Rotary Club. He attended Huntsville’s Trinity United Methodist Church and was a long-time member of its choir and building committee.
Survivors include his wife of 74 years, Anne; his 4 children, Debra T. and Bruce Gillingham of Wilmington, NC, Randy and Jill Tate of Idaho Falls, ID, Lauren T. and Phil Mathis of Huntsville, and Lisa A. Tate of Huntsville; his 4 grandchildren, Drew and Tayler Mathis, Jon and Kate Mathis, Daniel and Taylor Mathis, and Kyle and Ashley Tate; and his 6 great-grandchildren, Amelia, Walter & Julia Mathis, Hudson Mathis, River Mathis, and Presley Tate.
Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Tuesday, November 12, 2024, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 607 Airport Rd., Huntsville. A memorial service will follow at 12:00 noon with Rev. Mac Buttram officiating. Interment will be at West Point Cemetery in West Point, NY at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to West Point Association of Graduates, 698 Mills Rd, West Point NY 10996 or Macular Degeneration Research/BrightFocus Foundation, 22512 Gateway Center Dr., Clarksburg, MD 20871.
