The Marble Valley
Friends Hall of Fame is dedicated to honor those who have
contributed to the Tate community throughout the years.
Colonel Sam Tate
The First Pre-1940 Inductee, Inducted
June 04, 2005
Colonel Sam Tate was born to
Stephen C. Tate and Eliza Buffington Tate in the village of Tate
June 13,1860 and died October 13, 1938. He was educated
through local schools and North Georgia Agricultural College.
He received the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from the
University of Georgia in 1931. Colonel Sam Tate was president
of the Georgia Marble Company from 1905-1937. In that capacity
he was responsible for for building both a company and a community.
His good business judgments where equaled by benevolent concerns for
the company employees and the people of this area. Those
concerns were shown through his investments of time, energy and
resources in bettering the local schools, building churches,
providing improved housing with electricity, encouraging cultural
and recreational activities and supporting charitable causes.
Colonel Sam "King of the hills" Tate presided over his domain with
love and generosity.
Mrs. John Eubanks
First post-1940 Inductee, Inducted June
04, 2005
Willie Frank Newman Eubanks was
born June 6, 1906 in Jackson, Georgia to William Frank and Ada Elder
Newman. Following graduation from Atlanta Conservatory of
Music in 1925 she began her teaching career at Tate High School in
1926. In 1930 she married John Martin Eubanks and had 3
children, Johnny Martin Eubanks, Nancy Elder Dorsey and Frank Newman
Eubanks. "Miss Bill's" vocation and avocation is a music
teacher. The quality of her instruction and the depth of her
concern for her students established a standard of musical
excellence difficult to surpass. As a piano teacher, choral
director, church pianist, Sunday school teacher, member of Amicalola
Garden Club and volunteer ministry to homebound church members, she
has impacted this area to a degree unsurpassed by many others.
William Johnson "Bill" Prince
Inducted November 4, 2006
In recognition of William Johnson
Prince for his contributions to our national security through
wartime service in the U.S. Navy; the industrial development of this
area as Forester for the Georgia Marble Company; Pickens County
through service on the Amicalola Electric Membership Corporations
board of directors and as a plan designer, charter member and member
of the first board of directors for Arrowhead Country Club; The Tate
Community as President of the Tate Community Association for 39
years, designer of plans for expansion of Tate Clinic, instrumental
in securing services of the first doctor for the clinic and
preparation of maps used in securing Tate's placement on the
National Registry of Historical Places. A member of Cool
Springs Baptist Church where he served as a Sunday School Teacher,
Usher and records keeper of the cemetery.
Stephen Emmett Griffeth
Inducted November 3, 2007
In recognition of Stephen
Griffeth, the son of Mr. & Mrs. John Emmett Griffeth and brother of
Howard, Vivian, Jack and Jane. Steve was president of the 1932
graduating class of Tate High School. He was employed by
Georgia Marble Co. for forty-seven years beginning in the shipping
department and working up to memorial estimator in charge of all
orders and foreign purchasing. He was a member of the U.S.
Army during WWII, and a member of Tate Lodge No 485 F & AM for over
50 years achieving the Master Mason status, a charter member of the
Tate Community Association where he served 30+ years as treasurer,
on a committee to select doctors for Tate Clinic, and a member of
Pickens Community Hospital Authority. Steve was a noted
national historian and the author of "The Many Facets of Tate" a
book preserving the account of life and work in the village.
Henry T. Fitzsimmons
Inducted November 4, 2006
In recognition of Henry T.
Fitzsimmons who is considered to have first recognized the quality
commercial potential of marble in the Marble Valley. He was
the first white settler known to have quarried and milled marble in
this area. All that followed in the state's marble industry is
a consequence of his initiatives.
Miss Bessie Atwood Tate
Inducted November 3, 2007
In recognition of Miss Bessie
Atwood Tate (Mrs. Walter Tate) who demonstrated her love and concern
for the people of the area by: visitation to the sick and well,
sharing her time, food, flowers, talents, service to Tate Methodist
Church, Active participation in Tate's Woman's club, coordinator of
the Widows shop providing employment for Tate widows, Postmistress
of the Tate Post Office and organizer and 25 year president of the
Amicalola Garden Club. Her show case gardens under the care of
Robert and Joyce Turner continued through the years to brighten the
landscape of Tate and as a reminder of her love for the people of
this area.
Thomas Crawford Boswell, M.D.
In recognition of Thomas Crawford
Boswell,M.D for his contribution to the people of Tate and
surrounding area as their physician and friend for half a century.
He worked tirelessly meeting the needs of the people. Dr.
Boswell served in WW II receiving the distinguished flying cross.
He flew thirty-five missions over Japan in a Chief Control Gunner
possition. Dr. Boswell graduated from Arkansas Medical School
and interned at Crawford Long Memorial Hospital. Following in
his father footsteps, he too became a country doctor. He moved
to Tate in 1952 along with his beautiful wife Jean and little Donna.
Sandy, Stacy and Tommy are original "Taters". His dedication
and friendship has been a blessing to the people of Tate.
Beulah Morris Champion
In recognition of Beulah Morris
Champion for her contributions to family, church and community.
Beulah lived her entire life in Tate marrying J.O Champion in 1926.
She was mother to Charles Howell and James Hugh, and
grandmother to five children, great grandmother to six and a beloved
aunt and great aunt to countless more of the extended family.
The Champions graciously opened their home to Beulah's nephew so he
could live in Tate and complete his education at Tate High School.
Beulah was a pillar of the church being extensively active in all
aspects of the church. She loved singing in the choir...her
favorite hymn was "Wonderful Grace of Jesus". Being a friend
of the community, she was the lunch room manager for a period of
time at the school using grant money to buy food therefore serving
good nutritious meals.
