Thomas Tate’s service to 4-H spanned four decades (1977-2017). His career provided national leadership to improving organizational performance through innovations in the use of information technology and telecommunications. He led major development and implementation efforts at McDonnell Aircraft Corporation Manned Space Flight program (1966- 67), University of Missouri (1968-69), MIT Center for Advance Engineering Study, (1976-77), and USDA Extension Service, (1970-76, 1978-2009).
His commitment to growing the next generation of leaders motivated him to lead efforts to apply information technology and telecommunications to improve the management and delivery of research-based knowledge to youth and families in small towns and rural areas. Tate helped establish many 4-H technology initiatives: the first national collection of 4-H publications accessible online from the National Agricultural Library; email messaging between state and county 4-H staff; state and national 4-H technology conferences and the first national 4-H web site; 4-H teens teaching Seniors to use computers; over 900 4-H computer labs using surplus federal computers; 4-Hers learning to use GIS, GPS and remote sensing in mapping community conditions that need improvement and for emergency preparedness.
Tom helped establish the 4-H History Preservation Team to make 4-H history accessible online to people worldwide. In retirement, Tom continues to mentor tech-savvy 4-H youth from many states using online computer conferencing.
