William attended Fairmount High School and the Georgia Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1920.
From 1929 to 1936 he was head of the English Department and track coach at The McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
In 1936 he returned to the University of Georgia as dean of freshmen and assistant professor of English.
Tate was instrumental in the peaceful integration of the campus in 1961 by maintaining close supervision of student protesters.
Upon his retirement in 1971, Tate joined the university's alumni office and embarked on an intensive public speaking career.
Dean Tate brought his deep understanding of human nature to his narrations.