Wallace F. Pate Memorial Fund

Wallace F. Pate (1933 - 1993) helped pioneer offshore big game fishing in South Carolina and founded the state's first blue marlin tournament.

Above everything, Wallace Pate was a conservationist concerned for the health and well being of the game fish he pursued. He encouraged live release of billfish long before most realized the critical need for conserving the stocks. In recognition of his efforts to conserve our precious natural marine resources, the Governor's Cup established a special marine conservation fund in his memory, dedicated to improving South Carolina's marine environment and the wise utilization of its resources.

The fund supports research, development and education projects beyond the scope of the Governor's Cup and contributions are tax deductible. In addition, a portion of the entry fees for each tournament goes to the memorial fund, earmarked for marine conservation projects.