Tony Degrate, a 1981 graduate of Snyder High School, played football at the University of Texas. Tony was a consensus all-American as a defensive tackle in 1984 and winner of the Lombardi Award, which is presented to college football's top lineman that same season. Degrate is a two-time all-Southwest Conference selection (1983 and 1984) and the all-time record holder for solo tackles in a season by a Longhorn with 123 (1984).

He is tied for sixth as the all-time sack leader for a Longhorn defender with 27, including a team-leading 12 in his senior season of 1984. He ranks seventh in tackles in a single season with 147 (1984), and recorded a school sixth-best single-season mark of quarterback pressures with 38 (1984). Degrate led the team in tackles for loss during the unbeaten regular season of 1983 with 19, and again in 1984 with 17. He led the 1984 team in sacks with 12 and in forced fumbles with four. He was the recipient of the Houston Post SWC Most Valuable Player Trophy in 1984 and was chosen as a team captain his senior year.

He spent a season with the Green Bay Packers in 1985 after being drafted in the fifth round of the NFL picks by Cincinnati.

Degrate resides in Austin and works for a local business.