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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 21, 1940)
Plays for Five Dances in Three Days Shown above is A1 Kavelin, leader of the nationally-known orches tra which plays for four Ross Volunteer dances and a corps dance at Aggieland Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Tonight this band will play for the elaborate Queen’s Ball be ginning at 10 o’clock following the royal coronation ceremonies starting at 8:45. Tomorrow afternoon at 4 it plays for the R. V. tea dance; tomorrow evening at 7 for the R. V. dinner dance; and tomorrow night at 10 for the Captain’s Ball, climaxing the festivities. Saturday afternoon A1 Kavelin will assume an altogether different role, that of captain of a baseball team, leading his music makers in a game that has already been arranged between his group and the R. V.’s. Saturday night Kavelin’s band will play for the corps dance, terminating the social functions of the week. First Called Scott Volunteers, Later Changed to Ross Volunteers, R. V.’s Have Been Active for Fifty-Three Years By George Fuermann 1887 to 1940— fifty-three years of continued activity; that’s the record of the Ross Volunteers, Texas A. & M.’s oldest student organi zation. Originally the organization was called the Scott Volunteers, and the name changed as often as the college changed presidents, as cus tom formerly dictated that the organization should be named after the reigning president. In 1891, however, the present name was adopted permanently in honor of Texas’ former governor Lawrence Sullivan Ross, who became president of A. & M. at that time. also undergone many changes be fore assuming its present-day makeup. During the latter part of the nineteenth century the uni form consisted of white duck, gold ornaments, and a metal helmet. Late in 1907 the uniform was changed to blue and gray, with large Stetson hats, but this prov ed to be short-lived and soon the familiar white uniform with white caps was adopted and is still in use today. Composed of two platoons, the organization is unique in that it still follows the old-style drill reg ulations which make for more snap, military precision, and show manship. Nor is drill a go-as- you-please affair with Ross Vol unteer members. From January to the middle of May they drill forty-five minutes a day, four days a week. And occasions to demonstrate their worth as a military organi zation are not few. Highlight of their drill year is the annual Ross Volunteer Mothers’ Day drill, and other drilling exhibitions of the Ross Volunteers include the cere monies preceding the presentation of the traditional wreath at the statue of their namesake, Lawrence Sullivan Ross, their annual exhi bition drill at Navasota’s State Bluebonnet Festival, and other special occasions throughout the state. But most important of all to every Ross Volunteer is the tradi tional and colorful social season held during the college’s spring holidays each year. Led by the batoning of A1 Kavelin and his or chestra, Ross Volunteers and their escortees will waltz and tango on five occasions during the coming weekend. Tonight at 8:45 there’s the coronation of the Ross Volun teer King and Queen and the in troduction of their court. Mary May Crawford of Houston, a stu- (Continued on page 4) It Was Kiddies’ Day at A. & M. As Local Merchants Staged Easter Hunt By Tom Gillis Wednesday was the kiddies’ Easter day here af College Sta tion. The grown-ups won’t bring out their new Easter bonnets un til Sunday, but the children had their day at the Easter egg hunt held yesterday afternoon. For the fifteenth year, Luke Patranella, owner of Luke’s Grocery Store, provided 1850 coined . the occasion. The eggs were Patranella and so me nome economics students of the Consoli dated High School in the park area ■funder the supervision of the teach ers in the high school. The number of children participating in this year’s event was the largest num ber to take part in any of the fifteen annual hunts. Prizes for finding certain eggs were offered by local firms. The firm’s name was printed on one of the hidden eggs, and the child *ndtat*0 ' es could claim his Renting it to the were offered by For- son Paint and Wall Paper Co., College Barber Shop, Main Gate Drug Store, College Courts, College across the street from the A.A.A. Hills Estates Company, McCut- office south of the campus. Par- j cheon’c Ladies Ready-to-Wear, D. ticipating in the hunt were about; H. Reid, Jewelers, and others. 300 children of the Consolidated j The children hunted for several School up to the fourth grade and | hours until they were exhausted about 115 children not yet of school and all the eggs were believed age. At 2 o’clock the hunt began | found. R. V. ISSUE Battalion VOL. 39 122 ADMINISTRATION BUILDING COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 21, 1940 NO. 66 Spring Holidays c Begin As dipss ^Volunteers Inaugurate Traditional Three-Day Celebration And Dance ‘•Program Election Is Changed To April Third Farley’s Visit And Resulting Activity Reason for Change Because of the arrival and elaborate reception of United States Postmaster - General James A. Farley on the A. & M. campus Thursday, April 4, it has been deemed advis able to move up by a day the date for the election of three important student body offi cers as announced in the last issue of The Battalion. The general election of the editor-in-chief of The Battal ion, chief yell-leader, and jun ior representative on the Stu dent Publication Board will, therefore, be held on Wednes day, April 3. A runoff election, if necessary, will take place on the date pre viously set, Tuesday, April 9—one week later than the primary. As mentioned in the original an nouncement of the election, possi ble modifications may be made in the election rules; but this refers to changes which might be made by the Student Election Commit tee in the method of holding the election. It is not expected that any changes will be forthcoming in the qualifications required of candidates running for the editor ship. Mary Louise Lewis Represents A. & M. At Texas Round-up Miss Mary Louise Lewis, stu dent at T. S. C. W. in Denton, has been selected as A. & M.’s representative at the Eleventh An nual Texas University Roundup to be held in Austin on April 5th and 6th. Miss Lewis is a student in the School of Art at T. S. C W. where she will graduate in 1942. She was chosen as one of the school beauties and also chosen to repre sent her dormitory in T. S. C. W.’s annual Mardi Gras. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Lewis of Waco, Texas, and has a brother in the senior class at A. & M. this year. During Miss Lewis’ high school days at Waco High School she was an honor student for four years and was elected as Senior Class Favorite in her last year. She graduated in June, 1938. She lists dancing, swimming, hunting, and golfing as her hobbies. Waco Good-Will Group To Visit College Station on March 26 Waco’s Good-Will Tour into East and Southeast Texas, March 25-28, will bring more than fifty business and civic leaders by spec ial train into College Station Tues day, March 26, at 2:30 p. m. and remaining until 3:00 p. m., ac cording to word received here to day. An outstanding feature of the visit will be a program of enter tainment at a central point in the business district, which will be broadcast by a powerful sound truck accompanying the trippers. An exchange of greetings be tween Waco leaders and local lead ers will be on the program. Special musical entertainment is planned by the Waco gx-oup. The good-will tour will be conducted by the Waco Chamber of Commerce. ★ ‘filers oAnd c Rpyalty Of The Ross TJolunteer Qompany • (Right): Mary May Crawford Queen of the Ross Volunteers (Below, left to right) James M. (Dan) Sharp, Captain and Prince of R. V.’s Joseph A. (Joe) Slicker, R. V. First Sergeant Hubert E. (Hubie) Braunig, King of the R. V. Court Royalty Will Be Crowned This Evening Numerous Dances, Programs, Dated For Spring Affair At 8:45 tonight the annual spring festivities of the Ross Volunteers, A. & M.’s honorary military organ ization, will begin with the crown ing of Miss Mary May Crawford of Houston as Queen of the R. V. Court. Reigning with Miss Craw ford as King of the three-day holi day affair will he Hubert E. Braunig, Field Artillery senior from Beaumont. The royal court will be made up of Princess Daphne Salois of Dallas escorted by Prince James M. “Dan” Sharp, captain of the Ross Volunteers and the following dukes and duchesses: Merrill Smith and Catherine Callender; Vernon Smith and Alice Thomas; Mick Williams and Carolyn Ash croft; Charlie Miller and Carolyn Thompson; Tom Harris and Mary Frances Donovan; Bill Slaton and Jeanette Sims; I. Q. Mayhew and Glenna Mcllhannon; Jim Collins and Mary Margaret Kepple; and Bill Guy. The ceremonies will begin to night when members of the court enter the annex of the mess hall where the coronation is to take place. They will take their places about the throne, and the King and Queen will then enter and be crowned in an elaborate ceremony. Immediately following the corona tion a floor show for the enter tainment of the court will be held. The floor show will be followed by the Grand March and the Queen’s Ball. At 1:30 Friday afternoon the R. V.’s will stage their traditional precision drill. After the drill Miss Salois escorted by Captain “Dan” Sharp will go through the (Continued on page 4) Ross Volunteers To Place Wreath on Statue of Lawrence F. G. ANDERSON Sullivan Ross Friday-Man for Whom Company Was Named ANNOUNCES FOR COLLEGE MAYOR ★ ★ ★ > A r i © L_ Former Governor of Texas and President Of Texas A. & M. College The first organized student activity at A. & M. appeared in 1887 as a crack military com pany called the Scott Volunteers. In 1891 the name was changed to Ross Volunteers in honor of former governor Lawrence Sullivan Ross, who became president of A. & M. at that time. The uniform of the company at this time was of white duck with gold ornaments and a tin helmet. In 1907 the uniform was changed to gray and blue with a big Stetson hat, but since this dress did not meet with favor, the white uniform was again adopted with the substitution of white caps in place of the tin helmets. As part of the annual activities the Ross Volunteer Company places a wreath on Ross’ statue in front of the Academic Building. In choosing the name of Ross Volunteers, the company could not have picked a more appro priate name from a military standpoint. Ross was born in Iowa, but moved to Texas at an early age. From the beginning he was marked for a military career. So able a military leader was he that at 18 he ac quired the rank of captain in the Texas Rangers. While serving in this capacity, he defeated a tribe of Comanche Indians and effected the rescue of Cynthia Ann Parker, a girl kidnapped from her home in childhood. When the Civil War started, Ross enlist ed as a private, in 1861. Four years later he was discharged as a Brigadier-General. After the war, he returned to Texas to raise cotton on a plantation in the Brazos River valley. Through a campaign carried on mainly by his friends Ross was elected governor of the state. In 1890, immediately after his term of office as Governor of Texas, Ross was elected president of Texas A. & M. College. So popular was he over the state that many parents in effect sent their sons to Ross rather than to A. & M. During'his administration the en rollment of the college increased enormously. In this capacity Ross served until his death in 1898. ‘Best Interests of AH’ Is Only Platform Pledge Colonel Frank G. Anderson, member of the Physical Educa tion Department of A. & M., has announced his candidacy for the office of mayor of the City of College Station. The election will be held on Tuesday, April 2. “I haven’t any platform,” Colonel Anderson said. “If elected, I will perform the duties of the office to the best of my ability, working for the best interests of all.” Colonel Anderson is running for the office of mayor by special re quest of a group of citizens of College Station. He has been at A. & M. for nearly twenty years. During this time he has worked on the coaching staff, with the ex ception of two years’ service as Commandant of A. & M., 1935 to 1937. Colonel Anderson was born in Sparta, Tennessee, December 19, 1891. He attended the Mississippi State College where he received his B. A. and M. A. degrees. He was head coach and director of athletics at Mississippi in 1919- 1920. Colonel Anderson came to A. & M. September 1, 1920. He was freshman coach of all sports 1920- 1921 and track coach 1922 to 1935. Colonel Anderson was captain of the Mississippi College battery at the onset of the World War and later went overseas for one year as Major, 104th Field Artil- I lery. He now holds the rank of , Colonel, Field Artillery Reserve, | commanding the 11th F. A.