billy tate was my debate coach for he three years at selma high school. for a public high school in rural alabama we dominated the competition and won many state championships. for many years the walls of the high school library were lined with hundreds of debate and speech trophies won by the teams coached by billy tate. debate was more than an average extra kirk rick cue lar activity, it was a serious discipline and those of us who have been privileged of being coached by him knew it was a serious time commitment, a commitment of both time, money, and talent. to be on billy tate's debate team, a student had to commit to attending summer debate camps and countless weekend travel to tournaments all across alabama, mississippi, tennessee, and georgia during the academic year. it was not the average debate class. i know that my life journey would not have been possible were it not for my debate experience under the tutelidge of -- tutele inge of coach billy tate. i know i speak on behalf of all debators at selma high school and montgomery belle academy in e