William D. Tate, Grapevine’s longest-serving mayor, marks 50 years in office, reflecting on transforming the city into a major Texas destination.
GRAPEVINE, Texas — Do you love your job enough to stay there 30 or 40 years? How about 50 years?
One of the longest-serving mayors in the U.S., and currently the longest-serving mayor in Texas, is about to reach a golden milestone.
On May 17, Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate will officially mark 50 years in office.
Grapevine is known today as the Christmas Capital of Texas — a destination filled with festivals, tourism, and millions of visitors each year.
But long before the lights and holiday celebrations, there was the leadership and vision of one man. For five decades, Mayor Tate has led the city through enormous change, helping transform Grapevine from a quiet North Texas town into one of the region’s most recognizable destinations.
“How do you wrap your head around this moment? Fifty years!” we asked. “Well, it’s been so quick it’s hard to put your arms around it,” Tate said.
When he first took office in 1973, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport had only recently begun commercial flights. Landmark developments like Bass Pro Shops and the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center had not yet arrived.
Tate says his philosophy was simple.
“I gave the people what they wanted — more for less,” he said. “We have more city services than almost any city our size and one of the lowest tax rates.”
Watch Mayor Tate’s extended interview below:
But Tate’s story started long before City Hall.
He grew up in Grapevine, riding horses, climbing trees, and watching Grapevine Lake being built. His roots in the community run deep. In the 1940s, Tate’s father served as mayor while operating a family grocery store on Main Street.
“My dad and the men that sat around that store would not believe what we’ve been able to do,” Tate said.
Over the years, Tate helped shape a long-term vision for Grapevine: preserve neighborhoods and history while building commerce around them. That strategy helped fuel decades of growth.
One of the city’s defining moments came in 1986 with the launch of GrapeFest, a hometown celebration that eventually gained national attention.
“It’s given us recognition throughout the country and the world,” Tate said.
Now, after 50 years in office, Tate says the end of his historic tenure may finally be approaching.
“It’s kind of a farewell tour,” he said. “I have at least a year left.”
At 84 years old, Tate says 2027 will likely mark the end of his run as mayor. If that happens, it would close one of the longest mayoral tenures in modern American history and the longest-serving current mayoral term in Texas.
“I hope they remember me as the person who did something unique, something special,” Tate said.
And when Tate eventually steps away, he’ll leave behind more than an office.
He’ll leave behind half a century of history – built street by street, festival by festival, and generation by generation in the city he helped shape.
“We preserve what we had and our heritage,” Tate said, “And we built around us something bright and new.”
The next big event on the horizon is the Golden Jubilee celebration, which will kick off during the 42nd Annual Main Street Fest on Friday, May 15. You can find tickets and information at grapevinetexasusa.com