Mildred Tate dared to dream. Her vision both challenged and inspired her fellow workers. She gave tirelessly to the museum from its inception in 1964 until her death in 1990. With insight, leadership and determination, she created an outstanding collection and display of shells, winning state and national recognition for the museum. She epitomized excellence in the field of malacology and instilled her love of shells and nature in a generation of people.