Aggieland Twenty Years Ago
Not Too Different From Today
(Editor’s Note — This is the
first in a series of articles on
A&M as it was in 1930-31, ex
actly 20 years ago. Further sto
ries in the series will appear in
future editions.)
. Remember way back when. . .
That’s the standard introduction
for a look at the past. But it’s not
too apt to apply in this instance for
the when is exactly 20 years ago—
. a time when some of us had yet to
grace the world with our presence
and most of the rest weren’t pay
ing too much attention to things
beyond the scope of our play-pen.
' This is to serve as a look at the
highlights around Aggieland in
those days when almost the entii*e
world was at peace and a nickel
was actually worth five cents—if
not more.
And the look will be by a quick
survey of The Battalion files of
the year 1930-31. Let’s see what
we find.
The first issue, dated Septem
ber 24, 1930, announced the first
football game of the season, a
' clash with the Southwestern Uni
versity Pirates. The Pirates had
bested Rice 32-6 the previous
week.
This first school-year number of
tabloid-sized Batt also announc-
sPP the introduction of a new song
to A&M. It was named “There
Shall Be No Regrets.” That phrase,
incidentally, was the battle cry at
the beginning of this recent 1950
football season.
Inside the paper a column en-
* titled “Did You Know” announc
ed that 2,397 men had registered
that year.
Big news of the next issue of the
paper was the 43-0 defeat of the
Pirates and the plans for the Ne-
braska-A&M game. Another story
mentioned the proposed opening of
a 9-hole golf course adjacent to the
campus “operated so as to show
particular attention to A&M stu
dents and campus people.”
On the editorial pages,two read
ers who identified themselves only
as “Two who have been embarrass
ed” made a plea for a course in
table manners to correct a record
that showed “A&M graduates . .
unfortunately notorious for crimes
committed at the dinner table.”
Two stories shared first place
on the next issue, one on the All-
American honor rating conferred
on the 1930 Longhorn and the oth-
j er on the impending game with
Tulane in Dallas. The spoils page
mourned a 13-0 Aggie loss to Ne
braska.
Another reader contribution on
v, this editorial page again jumped
on Aggie manners. Objection
able this time were wisecracks
and unnecessary noise at the
movies. Quiet was especially
urged when “talking” pictures
were being shown.
President T. O. Walton took up
much of the front page of the
next issue, primarily for having
Walton Hall, being built at the
time, named for him. He was also
credited with having received nu
merous complaints on hazing.
The sports page announced a 3-0
loss to TCU and looked forward to
the Arkansas game. Contributing
reader for the issue, “D.C.A.,” ask
ed for shows on Sunday.
Announcement of resumed ath
letic relations with Baylor head
lined the Oct. 29 issue for 1930.
The relations had been discontin
ued following the death of an
Aggie at the 1928 Baylor game
riot.
The spoils section had bad news
again—Arkansas 13, Aggies 0. It
might be interesting to note that
the Aggies, then coached by Matty
Bell, were scheduled to meet the
Centenary Gents, coached by Hom
er Norton. One of the Aggie
squadmen, incidentally, was a small
lad named Harry Stiteler.
The first Corps Trip of the year,
a Dallas excursion, headlined the
next issue which also told of the
first campus fire of the year. Plans
for the corps trip were being com
pleted.
The sports page told of “Light
Horse Harry” Stiteler leading
the Aggies to a 7-6 triumph over
Centenary. His passing spelled
victory for the team, but just
to make sure, Stiteler made the
tally from the 2-yard line.
The “reader-gripe” for the week
was about telling jokes at yell-
practice.
The next issue found sports
again in the headlines with an an
nouncement of the coming Rice
game, the first at Kyle Field for
the year. Smaller headlines told
of a 13-7 loss to SMU.
The editorial page contained a
Dallas News editorial lauding the
Aggies. It began “How can a fel
low get mad enough to fight when
those Aggies are just so darn po
lite?” Among basketball letter-
men pictured in the issue was one
“Beau” Bell.
The coming Aggie-Longhorn
game headlined the next edition
which boasted of the Aggies’
fourth cross-country champion
ship in as many years. Confer
ence standings i n football,
though, found the Maroon and
White sitting in the conference
cellar on the wrong end of a
4-0 win-loss record.
An apology from Rice students
for some uncontracted painting
and a denouncement of poor-man
nered movie-goers highlighted the
editorial page.
As the year moved into it’s final
month, sports fans were again sad.
Turkey Day results had found Ag
gies 0, Texas 26.
Page 2 contained a form on
which Aggies were to indicate what
they considered their ideal, female-
Six Aggies Have Won
Congressional Medal
By ANDY ANDERSON
Six times, Aggies have taken
the most coveted of all military
awards. The Congressional Medal
of Honor has been awarded to men
in the classes of 1937, 1941, 1942
and 1943.
George D. Keathley, who before
his death, lived in Lamesa, was
from the class of 1937. S/Sgt.
Keathley assumed command of two
platoons and by displaying out
standing leadership, forced enemy
forces to withdraw. For this brav
ery and leadership, Sgt. Keathley
was awarded, posthumously, the
Medal of Honor.
First Lieutenant Turney W.
Leonard, class of 1942, was post
humously awarded the Congression
al Medal in July 1945.
Lt. Leonard reorganized confus
ed and leaderless infantry units
who were able to overcome enemy
resistance. His direction of artil
lery fire toward enemy strongholds
accounted for the destruction of
six German tanks. At the time of
his entrance into the Army, he was
living in Dallas.
The class of 1943 had three Medal
of Honor Wilnners. They were
Thomas W. Fowler, Wichita Falls;
Lloyd H. Hughes, Corpus Christi;
and, William G. Harrell, who now
resides at 257 Larchmond, San An
tonio.
Second Lieutenant Fowler, a tank
officer, took charge of an infantry
unit and led them through mine
fields he had scouted. He attempted
to rescue a tank crew but was pre
vented by withering enemy fire.
After the rescue attempt, he
rendered first aid to nine wound
ed infantrymen in the midst of an
artillery barrage. By braving the
relentless enemy fire, he was able
to save many lives and was recog
nized by being posthumously hon
ored with the country’s most hon
ored medal.
Second Lieutenant Hughes pilot
ed his badly crippled plane through
heavy anti-aircraft fire as he was
going in over his target, refineries
at Ploesti, Roumania. Utter disre
gard for his life and his gallant and
valorous execution of his orders
were honored by the War Depart
ment by the presentation of the
Congressional Medal.
One of the two living recipients
of the award is William G. Harrell.
Sergeant Harrell was awarded this
medal for defense of a command
post on Iwo Jima. He personally
accounted for five of the twelve
Japanese soldiers that were found
heaped around his fox-hole fol
lowing an all night attack.
First Lietuenant Eli M. White-
ley, with relentless drive led a
platoon of men in an attempt to
clear hostile troops from houses
along the line of advance of Com
pany L. 15th Infantry.
Lt. Whiteley killed nine Germans,
captured twenty-three more and
spearheaded an attack which
cracked the core of the enemy re
sistance in a vital area.
“Buss” Whiteley, as he was
known to his classmates in the
class of 1941, is now an instructor
in the agronomy department at
A&M.
Corps Parade—1900 Style
wise. With football season past,
the editors sounded the familiar
“get those grade-points” plea.
This predecessor of Sbisa and Duncan, the Old Mess Hall burned
at about the turn of the century.
' ~<l ■ M.lilVll
Historical Highlights
From The Battalion Files
THURSDAY, JANUARY 11,1951
Page 3
This was the Corps of Cadets on parade some 50
years agOs Notice the 20-piece band with two* -
civie-clad musicians in its ranks. You may also
recognise a lew. buildings in the backgroundj
House Warming
Our big new refrigerated fresh fruit and vegetable display
case is almost “big as a house”. Therefore, in inviting you
to come in and see and try it, it is fitting that we call the oc
casion a housewarming.
Firm, Good LETTUCE . . . ONIONS
Yellow . . .
3 lbs. 13c
Our lettuce is so firm, it appears almost like
cabbage—Feel it and taste it—
No. 5 Size
5c
BANANAS
10 lb. Russels.. 35 c Bag
MARKET SPECIALS
Heart of Texas
FRYERS. . . .
.... lb. 53c
Fresh Dressed
HENS
. ... lb. 48c
Wisconsin
CHEESE . . .
. . . . lb. 53c
ARMOUR’S BACON SALE
1st Grade Star ... lb. 55c
2nd Grade Dexter . lb. 45c
Pin Bnne
LOIN STEAK Ib. 75c
Beef Brisket
STEW MEAT ...... Ib. 37c
Grade AA
SQUARE SHOULDER, lb. 65c
End of Loin or Boston Butts
PORK ROAST
lb. 55c
GOOD FLAVOR Comes
From Quality . . .
Special Cuts of AA Heavy Beef
Will Be Made for You —
MESH BAGS
ORANGES or
GRAPEFRUIT
5 lb. bag
25c
Flame
Tokay Grapes . . 2 lbs. 25c
Texas Snowball
Cauliflower. .
2 lbs. 25c
Long, Slender, Clean
Carrots 2 bunches 15c
138 Size Washington
Delicious Apples... doz. 35c
Popular Brands
Cigarettes Carton $1.86
No. y 2 Cans Libby’s
Vienna Sausage ... 2 cans 37c
Last Go ’round. Libby’s—Strained
Baby Foods 3 cans 25c
Dixie Colored
Oleo lb. 33c
Scott’s Softweve—Facial Quality
Toilet Tissue 2 rolls 25c
New Pack—Texsun—46 Oz. Can
Grapefruit Juice 25c
New Pack—NuZest—No. 2 Cans
Orange Juice .... 2 cans 27c
14 Lb. Pkg. Maxwell House
Tea
each 27c
8 Oz. Miracle
French Dressing . . . each 9c
Regular Pkg. Kraft’s
Dinners
. . . pkg. 10c
Pint Kraft’s Salad Dressing
Miracle Whip pint 35c
• FROZEN FOODS •
Birdseye
Green Peas.... 2 pkgs. 49c
Snow Crop
Strawberries pkg. 41c
Honor Brand
Broccoli pkg. 29c
DUZ DREFT IVORY SOAP
GET ENTRY BLANKS HERE
Giant
83c
Large
33c
Giant
83c
Large
33c
Large Medium Personal
Size
15c 2-19c 7c
OUR EVERYDAY PRICES —
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES
SOUTHSIDE FOOD MARKET
3 BLOCKS DUE SOUTH OF KYLE FIELD — COLLEGE STATION