Penfield Tate facts for kids

Penfield Tate II was a very important person in Boulder, Colorado. He was the first and only Black mayor of Boulder. He served as mayor from 1974 to 1976. Before that, he was on Boulder's City Council from 1972 to 1974. He even won the most votes when he was elected to the council!

Penfield Tate II is the only Black mayor to serve in Boulder County. He was known for helping people and for being a strong supporter of LGBTQ rights. His son said that Penfield Tate II helped Boulder become a leader in discussing important topics like equal rights for everyone. He passed away in 1993 after battling cancer and pneumonia. Tate's son, Penfield Tate III, is also a politician in Denver, Colorado. In 2020, the city of Boulder suggested renaming its municipal building after Tate. A mural honoring him was also placed on the Boulder Public Library North Building.

Early Life and Family

Penfield "Pen" Wallace Tate II was born on June 11, 1931. His parents were Penfield and Vera Jane Houston Tate. He was born in New Philadelphia, Ohio. Penfield was the second oldest of ten children in his family. When he was only eleven years old, he started working in steel mills in Ohio. Tate married his wife, Ellen, in Philadelphia on September 17, 1955.

Education and Career Path

Penfield Tate II went to Kent State University. He earned his college degree in 1952. He studied both pre-law and political science. While at Kent State, Tate played on the school's football team. He was even the first football player from Kent State to earn "All-American" honors.

After college, Tate joined the army. He served as an artillery officer for fourteen years. During his time in the army, he also studied law. He later graduated from the University of Colorado's law school in 1968.

After law school, Tate worked at Colorado State University. He was the Human Relations Director there. In 1972, Tate opened his own law firm called Tate, Olin & Tate. He worked there until 1977. Later, in 1977, he opened another firm with his son, Penfield Tate III. This firm was called Trimble, Tate, and Nulan, and is now known as Tate & Tate.

Tate was not just a lawyer; he was also a very active political leader. In 1971, he was elected to the Boulder City Council. He served on the council until 1976. He was known for always wearing a string of colorful beads.

Supporting LGBTQ Rights

Penfield Tate II was a strong supporter of LGBTQ rights. He helped propose a new rule in Boulder. This rule would stop employers from firing someone because of their sexual orientation. The City Council approved this rule. However, some Boulder residents were upset. They asked for the public to vote on the rule.

The rule did not pass when the public voted on it. Some residents then tried to remove Tate and other council members from their positions. Tate was able to keep his job, but another council member, Tim Fuller, was removed. Because he was so passionate about LGBTQ rights, Tate faced challenges. He did not win re-election for mayor. Still, he is remembered as an important leader for LGBTQ rights in Boulder and Colorado.