FM Todd Andrews said, "He took me down in the first tournament I ever beat a master, but praised my teenage brain in doing so. While he was no stranger to controversy, he also knew how to encourage. We traveled the Northeast together. We both found ways to hustle up gas money to get to the next event. We got lost and somehow found our way back again. He was always proud of his children. He showed me that a southern boy could go toe-to-toe with the Grandmasters.... Everyone in American chess knew right and well how strong and charismatic he was the entire time he was here. RIP, my ole friend - you are already sorely missed and US tournaments will not see another like you ever come along."

Daniel Parmet wrote of a saying that went around the US chess subculture, "you are not a real chess player if you do not have an Emory Tate story."

On chess.com , GM Maurice Ashley said, "Players like him do not come along every day, every month, every year. He was one in a generation, and he will be thought of, always, with a chuckle and a smile. No doubt he is challenging Tal to some blitz right now. "