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Tom Pate

1952 – 1975

American and Canadian football player

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About Tom Pate

Lived 1952 – 1975 (aged 23). Tom Pate was an American canadian football player.

Tom Pate (July 21, 1952 – October 21, 1975) was a Canadian Football League (CFL) linebacker who died from a critical injury sustained while playing a league game in 1975.

A graduate of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln (where he majored in business administration), Pate was a 3 time letterman with the Cornhuskers and a member their 1971 national championship team. He joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1975 and as a rookie played 12 regular season games and recovered 1 fumble.

On October 18, 1975, playing against the Stampeders in Calgary, he suffered an aneurysm late in the fourth quarter during a running play deep in Hamilton territory. Pate was critically injured on the play after striking his head on the McMahon Stadium turf while being blocked by Stampeders fullback Rick Galbos. Aged 23 at the time, he never regained consciousness and died three days later.

In 1976 the Canadian Football League Players' Association named its sportsmanship and community service award after him: the Tom Pate Memorial Award.

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
University of Nebraska system

People in Tom Pate's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Tom Pate's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Tom Pate?

American and Canadian football player (1952–1975)

When was Tom Pate born?

Tom Pate was born on 21 July 1952 in Omaha.

When did Tom Pate die?

Tom Pate died on 14 October 1975 in Calgary.

What was Tom Pate's occupation?

Tom Pate was a canadian football player.

What nationality was Tom Pate?

Tom Pate was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Tom Pate

· Wikidata: Q7817175

· DBpedia: Tom Pate

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Tom Pate. https://biography.guide/tom-pate/

MLA: "Tom Pate." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/tom-pate/.

Chicago: "Tom Pate." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/tom-pate/.

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