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About The Texas Aggie. (College Station, Tex.) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (May 5, 1943)
LIBRARY CAMPUS FROM THL REVIEWING STAND A Fine Tradition Ripens One of the finest traditions in the American college field, the Annual Muster of the Aggie Fra- ternity, ripened into full fruit on April 21 this year. That tradition’s roots rest on the solid soil of a student event that happened on April 21, 1903. Through the years the tradition grew slowly and somewhat carelessly until April 21, 1942, when the immortal Corregi- dor Muster electrified every A. & M. man, and a Nation as well. The introduction and establish- ment this year of certain common program features has given the tradition and its observance a new and inspiring meaning. No man could have attended this year’s Muster without coming away a bet- ter citizen and a better man. No man could have attended this year without receiving a deeper appreci- ation of his Alma Mater and the fine principles his school has im- parted to its sons. No man could have attended this year without realizing as never before that THERE IS SOMETHING FINE, UNSELFISH, HEART-WARMING AND INSPIRING IN THIS FRA- TERNITY OF A. & M. MEN. A great and a fine tradition has ripened into full fruit. In the years to come it will be an inspiring, yet pleasant event in the lives of countless Aggies. Thanks and Appreciation Most important factors in the unprecedented success of the April 21 Muster this year were the hun- dreds of local chairmen, club offi- cers and others who took the lead in making muster plans and ar- rangements. They had a fine old tradition back of them, and they had the inspiration of Corregidor as a shining light ahead of them. They came through in the same spirit and their leadership estab- lished an even finer and greater April 21 tradition. The radio show, “Cavalcade of the Fighting Texas Aggies,” was Lotk stirring and entertaining. Program Director Ralph Nimmons, producer Ralph Maddox, and scrip writer Bert Mitchell of the WFAA staff, caught the true spirit of A. & M. and presented a marvelous show. It was broadcast by the Tex- as Quality Network, stations WFAA-WBAP, WOAI and KPRC, and its reception and appreciation was widespread. Those stations cancelled a popular commercial program to present the feature show. Few outsiders can realize the tremendous amount of work and thought put on the show by the WFAA staff. An example was the final rehearsal, when practical- ly every member of the WFAA an- nouncing staff rehearsed solidly from 3 p. m, until the show went on the air at 8:30 that evening. THANKS AND APPRECIA- TION TO THEM ALL, FROM AN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SNOW- ED UNDER, BREATHLESS, STILL A LITTLE BIT CHOKED- UP, BUT VERY HAPPY. The Placement Office The Placement Office of the Col- lege, Mr. W. R. Horsley, Director, ~ has received the following call: A national, major industrial concern, operating in Texas has an opening for a man to do agricultural pro- motion work. The man sought must be a graduate in agriculture, have a solid background of agricultural experience, possess the ability of creating confidence in farmers, ag- ricultural workers and business men, and have the capacity of co- operating closely with others. Sal- ary around $300 monthly, depend- ing upon the individual. The work will require extensive travelling in central and east Texas, with sales as a background but not primary purpose. Man must be in good shape physically. Anyone interested should send full details of his ex- perience, record, personal details, ete., to the Placement Office, W. R. Horsley, Director, College Sta- tion, Texas, for transmittal to the inquiring company. Never A Dull Moment Dear Mac: Have run into Routt and Rahn, Threadgill, Melton—in fact a lot of the boys here in the group and just learned of the new donation plan. In another letter I am send- ing a few pounds sterling as my bit, and wish you would start the “AGGIE” this way. I feel that my address is fairly permanent now. Up to now I have been sent all over England—having been until recently on attached service with the Royal Air Force “Goin’ to school.” I thought that when Char- ley Friley handed me my diploma (80% grade points), that I was through school but the Army has seen differently and the war up to recently has been one continuous school. Well, IT am back with our own Air Force now and have about gotten my hair to lie down nat- urally after having it raised most of the time. I wasn’t actually scared—the adrenal glands just ac- tive—but anyhow I'm all in one piece and have collected a hell of a pack of various and assorted yarns and lies to tell at future re- unions and conventions of the sons of world war (Part II), and such children as I later may beget. (It will be a mad rush in the latter case at my age; and the war cut- ting in every day). There’s never a dull moment but I do like to hear from old pals. P lease insert my address in the AGGIE—maybe I can raise some of them over here. Well, “Cheerio” Mack—How’s about a spot of Tea. Tell Tommy Mayo I was looking his Alma Mater over recently. MAJ. JOHNNIE CRUMP, ’27 A. P. O. 634, Care Postmaster, New York, N. Y. They Meet in Strange Places “A few weeks ago our ship stop- ped during the wee hours of the morning when one of the lookouts reported someone calling out “Ahoy” from the darkness. The man we rescued possessed little except a pair of wet pants, a growth of beard and an injured foot. Later on after our gunner’s mate had rendered first aid to the foot and had the patient resting fairly comfortable in a canvas chair on the main deck I went to him as Captain of our ship to question him. I was glad to learn he had been the Second Mate and Navigator of his merchant ship and he gave me very accurate information as to his last D. R. position as well as remarkably clear details on other matters which I knew would be of value to our own Naval Operations Office. It was hardly half light when this Mate asked me if “that is a class ring you are wearing.” Yes, you guessed it, he was an ex- Aggie—one M. H. Lurie of the class of ’38. During his junior year he had left A. & M. to go to sea and had been so employed until a short while before we found him out there apparently without any sign of a job—other than that of keep- ing afloat in approximately 2,000 fathoms of water. For the benefit of any of his friends who might read this the last we saw of him he was well over his condition of shock and while we had to leave him in a foreign port, he was getting the best of hospital attention with only a week or so to wait on his foot injury. In fact, he was feeling so good that on the day we sailed from that port I went by and found that he had already signed up for his next trip out on another merchantman. So, I guess this is additional proof to the statement often made that you are likely to meet an Aggie just absolutely anywhere— including some of the most un- recommendable of places.” (Signed) Name cannot be divulged for military rea- sons). Special A&M Edition Still Available A few copies of the Special A. & M. Edition of the Bryan Eagle and Houston Post put out last fall, are still available. They will be mailed to any address by the Bryan Eagle, Bryan, Texas, upon receipt of or- der containing 10¢ in stamps for each edition. The edition covers in detail war activities of the College, the students and alumni. It is both a splendid souvenir and interesting gift. 3 Hy] If this paper is not called for return postage is guaranteed by publisher. THE TEXAS AGGIE RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED Published Semi-Monthly Except During the Summer Months when issued Monthly by the Association of Former Students of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas VOL. XII COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1943 NUMBER 44 10,000 Aggies Attend Muster Success Whips Texas Aggie-- Story of Aggies at War Comes First So tremendous was the repsonse to the 1943 April 21 Muster of the Ag- gie Fraternity that at least two complete editions of the Texas Aggie would be required to report each separate muster. That posed a tough problem for the Editor, since a complete Muster Report would shove out hundreds of per- sonal items. Chief ambition of the AGGIE since Pearl Harbor has been to portray a running picture of the part A. & M. men are playing in the TOTAL WAR, both at home and abroad, on the fighting and on the home fronts. That picture has been a thrilling and an inspiring affair. There could be but one answer to the problem; The War News Comes First. And if the Editor knows his Aggies they'll applaud that decision. War-time paper limitations, a reduced staff in the Association office and technical and labor difficulties facing every printer these days eliminated the possibilities of extra editions. Most disappointed person involved is the Editor, |who remembers when the AGGIE had difficulty filling its columns, and who would like for the World and ALL A. & M. MEN to read in detail the spectacu- lar success of every one of the FIVE HUNDRED or more Musters that were held. Annual Association Meeting Streamlined By War, But Will Be Held May 21st The annual membership meeting of the Association of Former Stu- dents, streamlined for the exigen- cies of war, will be held on the Campus on May 21, Commencement Day. In line with requests made by the O.D.T. there will be no class reunions. The meeting will not be the normal affair, but is required to satisfy the charter and constitu- tional provisions under which the ABsociation operates. The annual business meeting and election of directors will be held in the Y.M.C.A. Chapel at three p. m. on the afternoon of May 21. The annual Faculty-Former Stu- dent luncheon will not be held due to crowded conditions and food and labor problems of the college din- ing halls. Following the meeting those present will attend the grad- uation exercises at which the final Development Fund gift will be made to the college. It will be re- called that War Bonds costing $37,000 were presented to the col- lege by the Fund last February. He’s Tops With the Big Ships -~ Brigadier-General W. Donald Old, ’24, most recently heard from in news dispatches as being in Washington with Generals Chen- nault and Stillwell for conferences with the chiefs of staff. It is presumed he will return to his base at New Delhi, India. A decoration for gallantry in connection with the evacuation by air of nearly five thousand sick and wounded from Burma in May, 1942, is the latest-known star in the brilliant U. S. Air Force record of Brigadier General W. Donald Old, ’24. He entered the Air Force immediately after graduation from A. and M,, and is regarded as one of the outstanding pilots of the larger planes in the U. S. Air Force. After graduating from Antonio, he entered A. and M. where he received his degree in electrical engineering, was in the Cadet Air Corps Unit, was a letter man in track, and a member of the Ross Volunteers. He married Miss Coquise Green, of Hillsboro, in 1925. She and their two children, Donald, Jr., 12, and Sally, 5, are making their home at Abbott, Tex- as. Stationed at Langley Field from 1937 to 1940, General Old was co- pilot of the famed B-15, at that Brackenridge High School in San Association President Wm. J. Lawson, 24, now living in Hous- ton, has appointed members of the Nominating and Auditing Commit- tees to serve at the annual ses- sion. The Auditing Committee will be composed of T. W. Mohle, ’20, Felix Terry, ’18, and F. W. Conrad, 32, all of Houston and all Certi- fied Public Accountants. Mohle is a member of the firm of J. A. Phil- lips & Co., Terry is a partner in the firm of Frazer and Torbett, and Conrad is with J. L. Block & Co. In making the appointments Mr, Lawson selected Houston ac- countants in order that they might meet easily and make consulting trips to the campus. The Nominating Committee will be headed by C. C. “Polly” Krue- ger, 12, as Chairman and includes Austin C. Bray, 29, Dallas, Mere- dith H. James, ’13, Houston, Cap- tain A. L. Batjer, ’33, College Sta- tion, Dr. Tom P. Kennerly, ’34, Houston, Ben J. Baskin, ’22, La- mesa, and Private Clyde T. Nor- man, 37, College Station. Addi- tional members of the committee may be added before the annual meeting. President Lawson announces that the Resolutions Committee will be named at the annual meeting, pointing out that under existing conditions it is difficult to forecast who and how many will be present, Club Delegations In order to insure a representa- tive group being present at the annual meeting each A. & M. Club is being urged to send to the meet- ing a definite delegation of as large a number as possible. In line with national policies no effort is being made to promote or stimulate attendance at this meeting, but of- ficers and directors of the Associ- ation are anxious that a represent- ative group of A. & M. men be present for the transaction of bus- iness of the corporation. time the largest plane in the U. S. Army, on a historic mercy flight to Chile carrying Red Cross sup- plies to an earthquake-stricken area. In June, 1939, he flew the ship to Mexico City with the body of Major Sabo, Mexican air hero killed in a plane crash in Wash- ington. In November of that same year he participated in a goodwill flight of giant airships to South America. He was sent to India in March, 1942. During the evacuation of Burma, he made a score of daring flights to and from the Upper Irrawaddy Valley. Despite enemy action and dangerous weather, he completed 15-25 flights daily during a ten- day period when the evacuation was at its height. He is at present with the 10th U. S. Air Force, with headquarters at New Delhi, India. 500 Musters A conservatively estimated ten thousand A. & M. men were present at over five hundred April 21 Musters held in every state of the Union and in many foreign countries. This year’s observance was the most wide-spread in the long his- tory of the April 21 observance tradition. Featuring the common program observed at each muster was the stirring “Cavalcade Of The Fighting Texas Aggies” presented by Radio Station WFAA of Dallas and broadcast by the Texas Quality Net-Work. The Musters ranged widely in size and style. Typical of the more elaborate affairs were the Dinners at Washington, D. C., Beaumont, Oklahoma City, and at the Ranier Club in Seattle where civilian Aggies had all men in the services as their guests. Dallas, Houston and San Antonio held the largest musters, with Ft. Sill, Camp Hood, Fort Benning and Fort Monroe leading among the scores of army posts where musters were held. There were family picnics and barbecues, stag affairs and ladies nights. Scores of groups with only two or a half-dozen present kept the fire burning in isolated places. No reports have yet been received of over-seas Mus- ters, but there are certain to have been many. Final count of the separate observances will run far above the five hun- dred now known to have been held. Attention: Clubs Directors of the Association of Former Students will be elected at the annual meeting of the cor- poration to be held at College, May 21. Each U. S. Congressional Dis- trict of the State has the privilege of nominating a Director, and A. & M. Clubs are asked to make those nominations. Similar nomi- nations are requested from out-of- state Clubs, particularly if a man is available who has possibilities of attending one or more of the usual several meetings of the board each year. Nominees for Directors should be sent to the office of the Asso- ciation in advance of the May 21 annual meeting in order that their names may be certified to the gen- eral nominating committee, and through that committee to the an- nual membership meeting. All men nominated should also be present if possible, or represented by proxy, at the annual meeting. The Direc- tors are elected by the membership at the annual meeting, and in turn elect officers for the coming year. Ike Ashburn Moves “Closer to Front” on Shipbuilding Post Colonel Ike Ashburn has been made manpower and public rela- tions official of the Houston Ship- building Corporation and has al- ready taken over his new duties. He has resigned as Civilian De- fense Director of Houston and Har- ris County. : His appointment was made by the directors of the Todd Ship- building Corporation. Officially, he is industrial and public relations di- rector for the huge Houston Ship- building Corporation. His responsi- bilities take in safety, hospitaliza- tion, public and labor relations, and other personnel work. A desire to “get a little closer to the fighting front” was given by Col. Ashburn as chief reason for giving up his civilian defense work and joining the war effort. Aggies-Steers Tie For Diamond Title Homer Norton's Aggie baseball team earned a tie for the Confer- ence diamond title by splitting the final series with Texas University on Kyle Field. Last year the Ag- gies were clear champs and their tie title this year makes them champs twice in a row. Only Texas U.,, Rice and the Aggies were en- tries in this year’s baseball race. Pete Watkins Sets New Drake Record Pete Watkins, six foot four inch Aggie senior, broke a 21 year rec- ord at the Drake Relays recently when he soared six feet eight inches in the high jump. He hopes also to break the Southwest Con- ference record at the league meet this coming week-end. Watkins is also a star basketball player and a good hurdler in addition to his all-star ability in high jumpihg. He leaves school after this term for the army, going to O.C.S. with other members of the A. & M. ROTC senior group. His home is at Iowa Park, Texas. “Heroes Roll Call” the common program was the -cere- Most impressive part of mony honoring the immortal twen- ty-four men who held their 1942 Muster on Corregidor only a few days before the capitulation of that fortress. Featuring that cere- mony was an original poem by Dr. John Ashton, ’06, followed by a roll-call of the Corregidor group. This ceremony will not be publish- ed, but will remain as the inti- mate property and inspiration of A. & M. men attending each year the annual muster of their fra- ternity. Equally impressive and well-re- membered by those present was the closing ceremony, with the oldest A. & M. man present dismissing the Muster until the following year. The following of a common prog- ram by each of the many musters added an inspirational touch that was felt by every group regardless of their wide separation. 5,000 Aggies Need Help to Reach Goal Still short $6,000 of its goal, the 1943 Development Fund of the As- sociation entered its final month with a chance of going over the top if old man procrastination could be shackled. Already more men have contributed to the fund this year than ever before participated in any financial activity of the Ex- Student Association. “There are hundreds of others,” declared Association President Bill Lawson, ’24, “who have mot re- ceived our mailings because of the tremendous dislocation of addresses in these war times. If the Aggie near you has not sent in his con- tribution please call it to his at- tention. I am confident there are literally hundreds of additional men who will want to have a part and to make a gift to the fund, pro- vided they know about it.” “This first year’s Fund closes on Commencement Day, May 21, when we complete our gift to the college. We set an ambitious first year goal of $50,000—and five thousand A. & M. men have already made con- tributions. A few hundred more Aggies making their gifts this month can reach that goal, and make us all happy and proud.” President Lawson also pointed out that all donors to the fund are to be listed by name but not amount in the annual fund report to be printed in June. After June first all gifts received will be cred- ited to the 1944 Fund. “Our ambi- tion now,” finished Lawson, “is to reach this year’s goal and make the Fund an unqualified success in its first year. If you know an A. & M. man who has not sent his gift please remind him to do it NOW. The 5,000 Aggies who have already given need a little help to put the Fund over the top with a bang.”
