Joey T\'s DHPF of the Month

Name: Steve “The Owner” Tate

Currently resides in: De Forest, WI

Q: What city/state were you born and raised?

A: Madison, WI

Q: How long have you been a Packer Fan?

A: I have tracked my love of the Packers back to April of 1957.  I was born in January of 1958!!  Go Pack Go!!

Q: Who is your all-time favorite player? Why?

A: Bart Starr!!  He personifies what it is to be part of the Packer Family.  He was a talented quarterback that was a field general who took command of a Game, and others followed loyally.  Off the field, he is a leader that gives back and is so kind.  He is the ultimate team player, in the ultimate team sport, someone who is that way off of the field.  I have had the pleasure of meeting Bart a few times.

Q: Who’s your favorite player now? Why?

A: Now it would be Aaron Rodgers because he is as close as any player that I have met that plays at such a high level, and has a lot of Bart’s qualities on and off of the field.

Q: Tell us about the Professional Football’s Ultimate Fan Association (PFUFA) and how you became involved.

A: The PFUFA is a group of super fans from all NFL teams that understand that it is an honor to have visiting fans in our town and a privilege to possibly be an ambassador for your team/area.

This is not about who the biggest fan is, or that a fan is better than others, but it is for fans that demonstrate the PFUFA mission statement as an ultimate fan in their fan base: To promote the fellowship of all fans, encourage sportsmanship and support charitable activities.

The charitable part is what really can distinguish an ultimate fan as a good candidate for the PFUFA, because it shows a giving heart that wants to leverage what they have for others, too.

The PFUFA has become family to me.  I go and stay with other PFUFA members for Packers’ road games, and PFUFA members come and stay with me or Wayne Sargent, “The Ultimate Packer Fan,” when they come to a game when their team is playing in Green Bay.  We try to help one another and we show them around as guests; we host them and want them to have a Good time before, and after, we win the Game!!  Go Pack Go!!

I got involved in the PFUFA when I was given a PFUFA Draft Card by an active PFUFA member.  I then went through the draft process, which is lengthy and thorough.  It is far more than an exercise in good writing skills by just submitting a bio.  It is an interview and review process to see if you are a fit for the PFUFA and our mission, and if the PFUFA is a fit for you.  This takes a few months, and a commitment to go to the PFUFA.org reunion.

During the PFUFA reunion you are asked to participate in a number of the many events that the PFUFA members are involved in.  You are encouraged to get to know other PFUFA members, as well as show that you want to, and will, be an active member if you are offered the opportunity to become a member.

I really enjoy being a part of the PFUFA because it has expanded my thoughts and actions beyond Wisconsin and the Packers.  This is because of the outstanding people involved, and all that they do in their communities for others.  I also enjoy hanging out with the PFUFA members over our annual reunion weekend.  It is held in the Canton, OH area, over the Pro Football Hall Of Fame weekend, every year in August.

I really look forward to any time that I can spend with my PFUFA brothers and sisters.  It truly is a blessing to be a part of a team and even more so to be a part of the PFUFA membership!! 

Q: What is your favorite aspect of the Professional Football’s Ultimate Fan Association (PFUFA)?

A: The high character qualities, along with the passion that these people have for others.  They really enjoy life.  One would think that really passionate fans would go at one another, or cause some discomfort for another fan outside of their fan base.  But that is not the case at all.  The PFUFA members really understand what it takes (the commitment of time, paying expenses, to giving up some of your free time) where you can help improve others’ experiences where you love the fans while disliking the other team.

Q: You are one of the ambassadors for hosting the opposing teams “Uber Fans” when they come to Lambeau. What are some of the activities they ask to see when they visit?

A: Most of the fans that come to Green Bay want to see Lambeau Field.  I also show them around the outside, the atrium and pro shop.  I suggest that they go on the Lambeau Field Tour, and into the Packers Hall Of Fame.  I will show them downtown, most of the stops along the Heritage Trail (Vince’s old office, Old City Stadium…), as well as Vince’s home and Curly’s grave. Plus a few places to eat and drink.  It is an honor to be able to show people around, and see their joy and reactions.  This helps us to get to know one another better, and it is a blast to be able to hang out together.

Q: Tell us how you came up with your persona “The Owner”.  ie (the Cheese Wedge Hat, wearing the Jersey and Pants, and the RING)

A: All of this developed over time.

My mom (Bev) bought my 1st Packers’ playoff game tickets: the Packers-Buccaneers playoff game on January 4, 1998.  She actually bought 4 tickets to be used by my wife (Fran), brother (Stan), sister (Chris) and I to go to this game because my 40th birthday was on January 3rd.  In November of 1997 I had just received my first share of Green Bay Packer stock that I had bought.  I had wanted to be a Packers’ shareholder for a long time, so I had jumped on this chance, which was the first stock sale in my life time (this was the 4th stock sale in Packers’ history).

The tickets that my mom bought were in the first and second rows of the north end zone in Lambeau Field.  Therefore, my sister made up a banner to hang over from our seats in the north end zone.  When I was going over to help her make up the banner, I grabbed my cheese wedge and thought I would have her paint, in green, NFL OWNER on it (it was just a fun thing to do because of my passion for the Packers – by this time I had been collecting Packer memorabilia and being a FANatical Packer fan for quite a while).

When I was walking into the game with my NFL OWNER cheese wedge on, a number of people stopped me to take photos with me.  The same thing happened in Lambeau Field, and I talked with a lot of different people and some reporters.  It just made the experience more fun, especially with other fans.

I have been wearing my NFL OWNER cheese wedge since, but the type of cheese wedge has changed over the years (I am on my fourth version – Thanks to Chris Tate for the first two and Jeff Kahlow from http://www.bigguyhats.com/ for the last two).

My Game day attire has changed over the years, and now it is a Packers’ uniform, with a Bart Starr (Mr. Green Bay Packer and one of THE Best men I have ever been around) jersey.

I purchased a Super Bowl XLV paperweight ring after we won that Super Bowl (our 4th Super Bowl Trophy and our 13th World Championship).  I then started to carry this big ring with me; most people get a kick out of it and enjoy having their photo taken with it.       

I used to just wear my NFL OWNER cheese wedge and a full Packer uniform and go by Steve Tate.  When I went to my first PFUFA reunion the other fans there started to call me The Owner.

I do remind people that ask me if I am the owner that, “Yes I am, and I am one of 360,000 plus!!

Q: Do you have a Packer ManCave/Collections and Memorabilia? What are some of the most unique items?  What is your favorite?

A: Yes I have collected a few Packer items and some other memorabilia.  I have two bedrooms with a lot of Packer items in them.  I also have some things in storage containers as overflow in other parts of my home.  I like items that have been signed by Glory Years Packers that I have met.  Besides special items signed by Bart, things signed by Jerry Kramer, Dave Robinson, Herb Adderley and Fuzzy Thurston have some Great memories with them.

I like the items that I have from Chester Marcol, John Brockington, Ahman Green, Chris Jacke and William Henderson.  Donald Driver is a Great guy to be around, and I have a signed number 13 practice jersey of his.

Plus I have a section of PFUFA items ranging from signed cards to bobble heads that include a number of the Hogettes.

Q: You are very involved in volunteering and working with Charities. Tell us about those and why you choose those particular charities.

A: It is a privilege to be able to share gifts, talents, blessings, and some work with others.  I moved almost every year of my life until I was about 19 (mostly around southern WI).  There were times where we did not have much, and others provided us with assistance, including the tate of Wisconsin.  Being a person that did not have long term relationships beyond my core family, relationships mean a lot to me.  Therefore, if I can help others that want help and want to be a team, I am all for that.

Here is a list of the charities and activities that are close to my heart.

The River Food Pantry in Madison, WI: http://www.riverfoodpantry.org/  

Wisconsin Voices For Recovery: http://wisconsinvoicesforrecovery.org/  

The Pro Football’s Ultimate Fan Association (www.pfufa.org) charity:

The J Babe Stearn Community Center: http://www.babestearncenter.com

The charity for the Ultimate Packer Fan Connection:https://www.facebook.com/TheUltimatePackerFanConnection

Cheese Force (because its focus is on children, especially Junior Packer Backers): http://www.cheeseforce.com/

Wisconsin Special Olympics:  http://www.specialolympicswisconsin.org/

United Way of Dane County:  https://www.unitedwaydanecounty.org/

I am open to assisting, promoting, and showing up for charity events if I have the availability.

Q: How many away games do you attend?  And, do you attend all the home games at Lambeau Field?

A: I have attended around 160 games, where around 130 have been at Lambeau Field and about 30 have been away games.  By the end of this year I will have been to 19 different NFL stadiums (Games).    

Q: Do you have any game day rituals?

A: No rituals.  I have fought against that since I played High School football where I saw some strange ones, like not washing clothing, and others as I played softball and went to NFL Games.  I have found out that I am just not that powerful…

I do like to get into the stadium about an hour ahead of time because I am there to see the Game and cheer the Packers on to victory.  I also do not leave my seat most of the time during games, and I have never gone into a road stadium bathroom because it is not the safest place to be, depending on who is in there and how much alcohol they may have had to drink.

Any last words you\’d like to say to the Packer Nation?

I prefer Packer Family (than Packer nation).  I am blessed to be married to Francine Tate for 34 years.  She is a wonderful woman and a GREAT wife.  I love my family, which has extended out to so many more individuals: those in recovery, PFUFA family, faith family and Packer family.

I am a person in long term recovery from alcoholism for 28 contiguous and continuous years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps7Cu7Wr6D0

I start my day and end my day in prayer to God because I know I cannot do it alone and I like to live in community with unity.

God, Family and the Green Bay Packers

Thank you, Go Pack Go!!

Steve Tate

Long Live Our Dreams

Steve\’s Gallery