- 1956 Graduate of McClenaghan High School
- 1962 Graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in Management and
Administration
- 1970 Graduate of University of South Carolina Law School with Juris Doctor degree
- McClenaghan High School
- Three year letterman in football and two year letterman in track & field
- As a senior named to the South Carolina Football All State Team
- As a senior named to the East squad of the Pee Dee Tobacco Bowl gaining 218 yards
and scored a touchdown
- As a senior named Most Valuable Running Back and averaged 7.5 yards a carry
- Named to the Ninth Annual National High School All American Team and nominated to
the East‐West game in 1955
- Member of the 1955 McClenaghan High School State Championship Team
- Accepted football scholarship to Newberry College in 1956
- Military Service
- Served in United States Air Force as pilot where he flew 110 combat missions
- Served in the South Carolina National Guard and retired as a Major General
- In 1989, General Pate was selected as the Outstanding reserve Judge Advocate
of the Year
- Promoted to Brigadier General in 1990
- Awards
- Distinguished Service medal
- Air Force and South Carolina Retirement medals
- Eagle Award, the highest National Guard award
- Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina's highest civilian award
- Retired as attorney in private practice where he was rated by Martindale‐Hubbell as
AV, which is their highest rating