Pa£« 6
THE BATTALION
Thursday, August 19, 1954
College Has 78 Years of Stormy History
A&M new ha* 78 year* of his
tory, history significant mainly for
the people who made it and what
has been done. Some of the time
ha* been stormy, but the result is
the most important thing.
Freshmen Have
Own Drill Team
The military students of the
freshman class have their own drill
team, coached by military science
instructor* and led by its own
elected officers.
At the first of the year, try
outs for the team will be an
nounced. Membership is on a com
petitive basis, with about 80 try
ing out each year for the 30-man
team.
Besides putting on drill exhib-
tions on the campus, the team
travels to other cities to perform.
Texas A&M, like every other
state’s land grant school, was
authorized by the Morrill Act of
1864. At this time, Texas and the
rest of the South was a little too
busy fighting a war to do anything
about, but by 1866, they began
looking around for a place to put
a land grant college.
The school was not founded in
the middle of the Brazos valley by
accident, contrary to what upper
classmen think. The city of Bryan
gave the land to the state. The
story says that the school was to
be two miles from Bryan, but
someone perseverent state re
searcher discovered that Bryan
had (at that time) 14 saloons, so
the college was moved out an
other two miles to get away from
the evil influence.
The school had the usual open
ing ceremonies in 1876, but there
was a slight misunderstanding.
Only a few students showed up, so
they told them to go home and
bring some more boys back with
them, and things got of to a start
the next year.
The presidency of A A M was first
offered to Jefferson Davis, fomfer
chief executive of the Confederacy.
But Davis declined on the grounds
of poor health, possibly because he
had just gotten out of prison, and
the job was then offed to Thomas
Gathright. Although Gathright was
then superintendent of instruction
for the state of Mississippi, he
could read and write, and accepted
the job. He had five faculty mem
ber* to help him.
The people of the state of Texas
didn’t think too much of their two-
building agricultural and mechani
cal college at first. The faculty
member* were trained only in the
classics, and the farmers and
ranchers of Texas had no use for
an education in the classics. Some
reorganization was necessary.
On to the scene came Lawarance
Sullivan Ross, to save A&M as he
had saved Cynthis Ann Parker
from the Indians about 90 miles up
the Brazos river.
Ross took the presidency of the
school in 1890, and his personnel
prestige gave the school the public
prestige it so badly needed.
You’ll hear about L. S. Ross
until the day you graduate, but
briefly, he was a Texas Ranger
captain at 18, a brigadier general in
the Confederacy, and a general all
round soldier, statesman, and
knightly gentleman.
His statue, a bronze by Pompeo
Coppini, is probably the most
photographed object on the A AM
campus.
He was also the first man to live
: in big white house that every’ presi
dent of the college has lived in
’ since.
The school perked up and sung
along from his time on. It has had
a few student revolutions, a glim
mer of a faculty revolution, and a
few other things that a college
needs to get out of its system
while it is growing up. But since
Ross’ day, it has had the approval
of the people of Texas, its owners,
for the job of education it is doing.
Park Cleaners...
Southside Shopping Center . . . South of Kyle Field
Invites all new Aggies to visit our plant and try
our Famous two and three day service
- Our Features -
FORM FIT
PATCHES
CROSS STITCH
A&M’s Living Room
come
'eicfi
>or
You’ll find what you want at Caldwell’s . .. the finest in
watches, silverware and other finery ... at prices you can
afford. There will be ^ v~"‘al days ahead ... we have just
the thing for Mom, ther or sister. Or if you’re
thinking of your bes^’.^ you’ll find the beautiful and
economical... at Cal^bell’s.
Diamonds - Watches - Silverware
Expert Watch and Jewelry Repair
Caldwell’s
JEWELRY STORE
112 NORTH MAIN PHONE 2-2435
(Continued from Page 1)
Bowling—Table Tennis
Anyone interested in learning
how to bowl or joining the MSC
A AM bowling team should be a
member of the Bowling committee,
which sponsors intramural tourna
ments as well as tournaments with
other colleges. The Table Tennis
committee also organizes such
tournament*.
Public Relation
The members of the committee
make known to the student body
the facilities of the MSC, through
radio, advertising, and newspaper
writing.
Student Forum
This committee promote* lec
tures on the campus by noted
speakers, so that students may be
better informed on current ideas.
Junto
This small group meets bi-week
ly to discus a wide range of topics;
all members are given equal op
portunity to express their view*.
Aurio
This club is for those student*
who are interested in high fidelity
sound for radio and record players.
Great Issues
The Great Issues committee will
organize for the first time a series
of speeches on subjects of popular
interest. The group also handles a
series of radio broadcast on con
troversial issues.
Film Society
The Film society arranges the
showing here of the best movies
of the past. Members of the com
mittee will select the films, pro
mote sale of tickets, and make ar
rangements for presentation.
Recital Series
If you’re a long-hair, this is for
you. The Recital Series committee
arranges for serious-type concerts
by regional and national artists.
Stamp Collectors
A new group — specially for
stamp - happy guys who want the
fun of hob - nobbing with other
philatelists.
3JC 3aL
nc$
m
The Latest in
Style and
Textures
Wool Jersey
Winter Cotton
Corduroys
Rayon Suiting
Woolens
Formal Fabrics
Orion and Nylon
The Fabric Shop
106 Main Street
Bryan
THE OLD DAYS—Before the internal combustion engine
replaced the war horse, A&M’s artillery units used to prac
tice with horse-drawn cassions. Here they are lined up
on one of the campus drill fields, preparing to race to see
which unit could get its weapon set up and ready to fire
first.
“The Place Where Friends Meet”
SPORTSMAN
Bar and Grill
RAY E. HOLLINGER, Manager
Steaks - Chicken - Seafoods
Oysters on the Half Shell
104 S. Main
Bryan
Ph. 2-1932
DON’T
TAKE A
CHANCE
. Start A Cheeking Account
And Know Where Your
Money Goes • . •
We trust that we may have an oppor
tunity to serve your banking require
ments, and are fully equipped to serve
your every banking need . . .
College Station State Bank
NORTH GATE COLLEGE STATION
Member FDIC—Member Federal Reserve Bank
An Aggie in Business for Aggies . . .
. . . welcomes you new Aggies
Our exclusive lines of nationally-
advertised clothes, both uniforms
and civilian, are awaiting your
inspection and approval.
Highest Quality - Lowest Prices
AGGIE TAILOR MADE CLOTHES
Located Conveniently at North Gate, Next to A&-M Grill