--- title: HR 514. Pate, Bobby C.; condolences collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr514 cite_as: HR 514, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr514 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr514.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr514/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71197 date: 2025-03-06 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-12 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr513.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr515.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr514.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 514 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-06 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Alan Powell text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR514/2025 upstream_id: 1994293 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - condolence resolution - Georgia House of Representatives - college football history - Hart County --- # HR 514. Pate, Bobby C.; condolences ## Text House Resolution 514 By: Representative Powell of the 33rd A RESOLUTION Honoring the life and memory of Bobby C. Pate; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, the State of Georgia mourns the loss of one of its most distinguished citizens with the passing of Bobby C. Pate on September 28, 2024; and WHEREAS, Bobby C. Pate was born on November 29, 1936, in Jacksonville, Florida, a beloved son of Richard Pate and Ada Dukes Pate Jeffries; and WHEREAS, he was a gifted athlete who played college football at South Georgia State College under then–head coach Bobby Bowden before transferring to Presbyterian College, where he was twice named Player of the Year and South Carolina Back of the Year; and WHEREAS, his athletic talent earned him selection in both the 1960 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers and the 1960 American Football League Draft by the Boston Patriots; and WHEREAS, following his playing career, he dedicated himself to coaching, beginning as an assistant football coach and head track coach at Hart County High School from 1963 to 1965 before serving as head coach and athletic director at Toccoa High School, Norcross High School, and Cherokee High School between 1965 and 1974; and WHEREAS, he transitioned into college coaching as an assistant coach at Western Carolina University from 1974 to 1979 and later earned his first collegiate head coaching position at the University of West Georgia, where he led the team to an NCAA Division III National Championship in 1982; and WHEREAS, he later returned to Hart County in the mid-1980s to serve as head coach of the Hart County Bulldogs, leading and mentoring young athletes for several years before his retirement; and WHEREAS, he was united in love and marriage to his wife, Donna, with whom he shared 63 wonderful years, and the two were blessed with three remarkable children, Elliott, Kathee, and Lonn; and WHEREAS, a compassionate and generous man, Bobby C. Pate will long be remembered for his love of family, friendship, and community and will be missed by all who had the great fortune of knowing him. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of Bobby C. Pate and express their deepest and most sincere regret at his passing. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to the family of Bobby C. Pate. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution honors the life of former college football player and coach Bobby C. Pate, who died in September 2024, and directs a copy be sent to his family. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives is a tribute to Bobby C. Pate, who passed away on September 28, 1936 through 2024. It recounts his life story: his birth in Jacksonville, Florida, his college football career at South Georgia State College and Presbyterian College, his selection in the 1960 NFL and AFL drafts, and his long coaching career at several Georgia high schools and colleges, including a national championship season at the University of West Georgia in 1982. The resolution formally states that the members of the House join in honoring his memory and expressing regret at his passing. It also directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for delivery to Pate's family. The resolution does not change any Georgia law; it is a ceremonial statement. ### What it does - Formally expresses the Georgia House of Representatives' condolences on the death of Bobby C. Pate. - Recounts Pate's biography, athletic career, and coaching career at several Georgia schools and colleges. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for Pate's family. ### Who it affects This resolution directly concerns the family of Bobby C. Pate, who receive the commemorative copy, and it reflects an action taken by the Georgia House of Representatives; it does not impose obligations on the public or any Georgia institution. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal or regulatory effect on Georgians; its significance is symbolic, giving formal, public recognition from the state legislature to Pate's life and career and providing his family with an official memorial document. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses detail Pate's birth, athletic career, coaching positions, and family life, including his 63-year marriage and three children. - The resolving clause has the House of Representatives join in honoring Pate's memory and expressing regret at his passing. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy available for distribution to Pate's family. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-06) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-06) - Sponsors: Alan Powell - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71197 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr514.md?full=1