Founder of Aggie Traditions
A & M’s 75TH
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
The Battalion
SECTION ONE
SPECIAL
EDITION
COLLEGE STATION (Aggieland), TEXAS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9,1950
Aggie Greatness
Texas Governor Saved College
When It Faced Certain Death
Lawrence Sullivan Ross
1838-1898
Soldier Statesman, Knightly Gentleman
Brigider General C. S. A., Governor of Texas
President of the A.&M. College
By GEORGE CHARLTON
If Hollywood were to ever get
hold of a film story based on the
life of Lawrence Sullivan Ross,
hypertentious producers most like
ly would call it “unrealistic” and
too fantastic to be true. Also, the
writer of the manuscript would
probably be told to go take a Turk
ish bath and a few weeks rest.
But old timers around the state
and chroniclers of the past know
it to be a fact. What A&M’s “sol
dier, statesman, and knightly gen
tleman” did in his 60 full years is
merely history.
He was born in Bentonport, Iowa,
on the 27th day of September, 1888,
and in the following spring, his fa
ther, Captain Shapley P. Ross,
moved to Texas as Indian agent in
Waco.
At the time, the new metro
politan industrial center, was no
more than a trading post. His
sister, later Mrs. Kate Padgitt,
Mas the first white child to be
born in McLennan County.
His early boyhood, spent in an
atmosphere of the constant threat
of warring Comanches, was a fit
ting one for the career he would
someday assume as commander of
frontier forces in Texas.
In 1858 while home on a sum
mer Vacation from the Florence
Wesleyan University of Alabama,
the 20-year-old Ross won his spurs
and the sobriequet of “the boy cap
tain” in a desperate battle with
the Comanches which included slay
ing 95 of their number, capturing
350 head of horses, and recovering
from the redskins of a little white
—
Congratulations,
Texas ASM
R. W.
R. W. Briggs, '17
M. B. Killian and Company '
M. 8. Killian, '26
Fordyce Gravel Company
C. A. Chipley, '26
girl whose parents were never
known, but whom Ross brought up
and educated, naming her Lizzie
Ross.
A serious wound received dur
ing the encounter almost put an
end to a brilliant future career
of the young soldier. On his re
covery, he returned to his alma
mater, nhere he graduated the
following summer.
On his return to Texas in 1859,
he was immediately placed in com
mand of the frontier by the vener
able governor, Sam Houston. Or
ganizing began at once, and he as
sembled a band of followers who
soon were to deefat the Comanches
decisively, destroy their strong
hold, capture over 400 horses, and
rescue Cynthia Ann Parker.
She had been captured years be
fore as an infant by an Indian
raiding party. Ross killed the
chief, Peta Nocona, in hand-to-hand
combat, and the warrior’s feathered
shield, war lances, and buffalo-
horns were sent to Governor Hous
ton at Austin as tokens of victory.
Then began the nation’s five-
year long continuous tragedy
where even members of the same
family were in different armies—
the war between the states. En
tering the Confederate Army as a
private, he quickly rose to major,
lieutenant-colonel, colonel, and at
the age of 25 he became brigadier-
general.
He took part in 135 engagements
of importance and had seven horses
shot down from under him. It was
at the battle of Corinth, when in
a 300-yard charge on battery Rob-
inett that he lost 50 out of 350 men
before the fort could be reached
and taken.
General Dabney H. Maurey, in
response to a letter from the
Confederate w a r department,
gave “L. S. Ross” as the name
of the man who displayed the
most distinguished gallantry on
the memorable occasion.
A decision was made at Appa-
matox court house and a war was
ended. Reconstruction, bitter as it
was for the South, followed and
Ross, like ipost of bis friends, was
left penniless. He turned to farm
ing for livelihood. In 1873, he had
become sheriff of his county.
His political career began, and
in ’75, he was a member of the
constitutional convention. S i x
years later, he had been elected to
the state senate, in which body he
served as chairman of the finance
committee.
He mjis often solicited to be
come a candidate for governor.
He consented in ’86, and in that
year, Mas nominated and elected.
Re-elected in 1888, Ross received
a majority of 152,000 votes.
His record as governor was au
spicious. Upon his retirement, he
carried with him the plaudits of
friends and opponents, having had
the honor of affording the state one
of the most popular administrations
it has ever had.
In the meanwhile, a rather un
popular college located on the Braz
os was dwindling to a slow death.
It had become known as a “reform
school” for incorrigible boys.
Ross didn't quite think things
were so hopeless. He made a deal
with the legislature: “Don’t close
Some “fish” give “Sully” his periodic balh. The bronze statue in
front of the Academic Building ranks probably as the most valuable
single object on the Campus to the student body. Freshmen have
the honor of keeping his appearance equal to his standing.
A&M, and after I finish my term
of office, I’ll take the presidency.”
This he did in 1890. When he
came on the campus, he held indi
vidual interviews with all students.
From them he secured a pledge to
discontinue hazing of “fish.” In a
few years, he had the College back
on an even keel and had given it
a good name.
In many cases, parents sent their
boys to Sul Ross, not to college.
His administration was a classic
example of leadership and diplo
macy.
Dr. Bittle, chaplain of the Col
lege in ’90, said in an eulogy
address after Ross’ death: “for
eight years back, I think no offi
cial of the campus has felt sure
in conscience until he unloaded
a large share of his plans upon
the administrative shoulders of
the Governor, as Me called him.”
A glimpse of Ross’ character
makeup is mentioned in the same
speech: “You friends of his think
you have heard him speak and on
public occasions his vqice did ring
out with eloquent thought.
“But you never heard the whole
man speak, untrammeled by his
natural modesty, forgetful of sur
roundings, conscious alone of the
factt hat the youth of Texas were
(Continued oyi Page 4)
CONGRATULATIONS....
PRESIDENT HARRINGTON
Upon entering your high office as the twelfth
President of Texas A. & M. College, we join your
thousands of friends in extending congratulations
and best wishes. While the history of Texas A. &
M. College has been glorious in the past, we look for
this school to attain new heights in the training of
young men for leadership in agriculture and the
mechanic arts.
As a business institution serving this com
munity for more than forty years, we take great
pride in the contribution this school has made dur
ing the seventy-five years of its existence. Our
hape is that the years that lie ahead may bring ad
ded lustre to the Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege of Texas.
First State Bank & Trust Co.
BRYAN, TEXAS
Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation