Page 0
College Station, Texas
Thursday, August 24,1961
THE BATTALION
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Ross Volunteers
. Official honor guard
If someone were to ask the ques
tion, “What is the oldest student
organization on the campus?”,
the answer would be the Ross
volunteers. This military organ
ization was founded in 1887, which
also makes it one of the oldest
student organizations in the state.
The original company was called
the Scott Volunteers, in honpr of
Col. T. M. Scott, who was business
manager of the college at that
time. The Volunteers described
the purpose of their organization
as to band together the most mili
tary men in the school into a crack
drill company.
In 1891, when ex-Governor Law
rence Sullivan Ross became presi
dent of the college, the name of
the company was changed to Ross
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‘Rev’
Great
Symbolizes
Tradition
Aggie spirit takes life at each
football game halftime when a 50-
pbund brown and white shepherd
dog romps back and forth through
the 260-piece band captivating
thousands of fans.
The story of this lovable Aggie
mascot, Reveille II and her earlier
counterpart Reveille I, began 27
years ago when a group of Aggies
returning to A&M from Houston
in an automobile ran over a little
mongrel pup near Navasota.
They picked up the yelping,
injured pup and brought her to
College Station and began one of
the greatest traditions in the his
tory of a tradition-rich school.
The next morning the dog began
barking at the sound of reveille
and was immediately dubbed “Rev
eille.”
For 13 years the little dog en
deared herself to thousands of
Aggies’ hearts as the school’s offi
cial mascot.
In January, 1944, Reveille I died
f
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LOUPOT'S
MADE BY TRADES
WHERE TRADES ARE MADE
and was buried with full military
honors. A memorial in her honor
was erected at the north entrance
of Kyle Field.
Two dogs “Rusty” and “Spot”
were then in as the official mas
cots of the school, but never re
gained the prominence of Reveille
I.
In an election in the fall of 1951,
the students expressed a desire for
another mascot.
Their wish was granted in Jan
uary of 1952, when the late Arthur
Weinert, ’00, donated a three-
month-old Shetland shepherd pup
to the school.
Reveille II began living with
Sophomore Sam Netterville in “A”
Quartermaster, and she has lived
with the Quartermaster Corps ever
since. The unit is now Co. E-2.
Reveille eats two cans of dog-
food a day, but usually turns up
her nose at the dining hall food.
She marches to all formations to
chow.
Without fail, Reveille is up
front at The Grove at yell prac
tices barking at the top of her
voice with the Aggies.
QUICK ACCIDENT
rATHENS, Tenn. 6T)—Harvey
Womack, 31, bought a new motor
cycle, climbed aboard and ran the
new vehicle into a brick building
across the street two minutes
later. He
riously.
was not injured se-
Volunteers in his honors. Follow
ing the death of Ross in 1898, the
name was changed to Foster
Guards, again honoring the new
president of the college, L. L.
Foster, who has succeeded Ross.
The company marched under the
name of the Houston Rifles during
President Houston’s administra
tion. The plan of the organization
was to change its name in honor
of each succeeding president of
the college.
In 1902, H. H. Harrington, son-
in-law of Gov. Ross, became presi
dent of the college. When the
name of Plarrington Rifles was
proposed, Harrington requested
that the company again assume
the name of Ross Volunteers. It
was then decided to make the
name of Ross Volunteers perma
nent, which it has remained.
At the time of organization the
membership was restricted to
forty cadets chosen from the jun
ior and senior classes. New mem
bers were accepted into the com
pany by an election held early
each scholastic year. The basis
of acceptance is military ability
and popularity. After the World
War I some non-military students
were elected, but in 1923 the com
pany decided to make non-military
students and those not making a
“B” in Military Science ineligible.
At present, to be eligible for
membership, one must be taking
the advanced Military Science or
Air Science course at the time of
his appointment, must have a 2.0
overall grade point ratio in his
Military or Air Science course and
at no time have failed a Military
or Air Science course. An overall
scholastic grade point average of
1.25 was required for membership
at the initial reactivation after
World War II. Beginning in Sep
tember, 1948, however, a schol
astic grade point average of 1.5
was required. The scholastic re
quirement may be waived in spe
cial cases however.
Also at this time, membership
became limited to 133 members at
a ratio of two juniors to one sen
ior. This ratio insures a constant
flow of candidates for special
training and development in the
company and for qualified poten
tial leaders of the highest caliber.
The first uniform for the com
pany was of white duck with gold
ornaments. The headgear was a
tin helmet which has long since
been discarded in favor of the
lighter white military caps. For
the most part the Ross Volunteer
uniform has been of white duck
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with the high stiff collar of for
mer military fashion, throughout
its history with one exception.
In 1907 the group adopted a blue
and gray uniform. Gray breeches
and blue shirts were worn with
black boots and a large Stetson
hat to honor the late Teddy Roos
evelt’s famed Rough Riders. Thi§
uniform was short-lived however,
and was discarded in favor of the
original white duck uniforms. To
day the Ross Volunteer officers
wear long red silk cumberbun
sashes for official and formal oc
casions.
The Ross Volunteers represent
the college at distinctive functions
such as acting as escort and honor
guard at the inauguration of the
Governors of the State of Texas,
meeting and escorting distin
guished guests of the college, par
ticipating in parades and cere
monies in and out of the state and
performing as a drill team and
honor escort company on various
occasions throughout the state.
The company suffered a period
of inactivity during World War II
when the advanced Reserve Offi
cers Training Corps was disrup
ted. In September, 1948, however,
the Volunteers were reactivated.
Following is the preamble to the
Constitution of the Ross Volunteer
Company which was adopted at
the time of the reactivation and
which has remained the same:
The Ross Volunteer Company
of the Agricultural and Mechanical
College of Texas, as here under
constituted, is a voluntary mili
tary organization for the purpose
of representing to the Staff, Fac
ulty, and Corps of Cadets of the
Agricultural and Mechanical Col
lege of Texas, and to the citizens
of the State of Texas, an organi
zation of military distinction and
example, made up of a member
ship of men selected from the
Cadet Corps who will best accom
plish the purpose and ideals of
the organization.
“In its social functions, as spon
sored by the School of Military
Sciences of the Agricultural and
Mechanical College of Texas, it is
intended that the Ross Volunteers
make tangible contributions to the
general social and cultural life
of the Corps of Cadets of the col
lege; that social distinction be
combined with social enjoyment;
and that the dress, general bear
ing, and conduct of the member
ship and their activities reflect
credit upon the college at all
times.”
Each fall there is an initiation
ceremony with an appropriate rit
ual and administering of the oath
of membership to new members.
Each spring the traditional ball
and banquet are held. At this
occasion in 1956 the only honorary
membership which has ever been
bestowed was presented to Dr.
Francis Marion Law, a member
of the Class of 1895, a former
member of the Board of Directors
of the college and a distinguished
citizen of the state.
Through the years emphasis on
membership and functions of the
company has varied. Originally,
membership was based solely on
outstanding military performance.
At one time emphasis was on so
cial qualifications, and dues and
elaborate uniform costs seriously
By
freshmen
limited participation in the grp;;
For many years the Ross Volu
teer Banquet and Ball were fj
outstanding social events of |j
school year. They were held a
ing the spring recess and ta, »t realize
accompanied by a Queen’s Ballij T campu
Corp dance. Invitations to tkj |es in th
affairs were coveted far and niWicultural
Since the Ross Volunteer Co®)f the to’
pany of today is intended to 5® on the i
emplify the spirit and inhetePoss the
principles and nature of the la!® is the
est military college in the naiinftion, 10 r
emphasis for membership is pfeitl e Static]
on char^pter traits, academic tomland,
military standing, military M ’he upla:
ing, energy and interest in extii 'S ne d t(
curricular activities and disc; lartment:
linary records and social gra# 7 Schoo
Applicants are carefully scram 3 in Tex
by senior members of the otgs Ani
ization and the commandant, Te Depa
This year the company has fa ‘dT h as
sponsors. Two of these were 3 an
pointed from the Office of J f cattle
Commandant, one from the I [ximatelj
partment of Military Sciences ^ h 0 S s
Tactics and one from the Depa ses i le iP
ment of Air Science. ’ F s ma ' 1
A history of the Ross Voluntas | researc
could not be written without tel
ing- of their most recent ac«l^ e ’ ^
plishments. Last year they fi!« m P s ^ re
■fiiwi fnw nf tVipir mnst JP^hire,
pster W
filled tow of their most
known traditions in acting asC
honor guard for the kjlp aic
uration of the Governor of Te$® e ^ s
and marching as the official el r ers '
cort of “King Rex” at the M [oining 1
Gras. : ; acre P c
~ , upment
Actually Governor Price Did j n( p us t r
did not have an official inaugiB ,j iere a .
tion this year but he reques
is and 8 1
ry year
hatch e-
that a group of RV’s be pres
at the informal ceremony. As
result a contingent of 30 wbiji ers
teers attended Governor Danielr
reinstallment to office on Jan, lj
Mardi Gras parade and celete give ex
ming, d
ng.
tion. "While guests of the Sf*
Orleans A&M Club, Col. DavisW ja;
Jones were presented keys tots
city of New Orleans by a reps'
sentative of the mayor. In aiSj
tion each R.V. was made an k# th appr
ary member of the New Orlea# ^ f urr
A&M Club by the president of til
Club.
The continuous wave of applas fy prod
1 Memo
iduced 1
that greeted the volunteers dm'!
the three hour Mardi Gras pan*
and the favorable comments ted hi milk
all along the route of the pant m.
echoed of the esteem with ivte the mill
the Ross Volunteers are heldinfafv e( l dai
New Orleans area.
The volunteers also go to th ^ or -
Buccaneer Days in Corpus Chris;
or the Holiday In Dixie celete
tion in Shreveport, La
each year.
ge wind
or m dhwest
lege-ow:
Shoes Sizes Are
No Problem
5 to 14 — AA to E
The
'?er ser
ROTC
atom
is now
airpor
Rai
Joinin.
COURT’S
North Gate
: e s assi,
Range
‘ e s for i
f'i'e Dep
and r
Holiday Plaza
Motel
WELCOMES YOU TO AGGIELAND
Swimming Pool
Complete Hotel Service
Elehugh Levy ’32
TA 2-3748
Mr. and Mrs. F. T. Chambles
1720 Texas
irectly
More recently, 115 Ross Vote
teers commanded by Cadet Life
Glenn Jones and accompanied 1
Col. Joe E. Davis, Commaniait p, vegeti
traveled to New Orleans forth
m is th'
ture’s te
ch, plur
fhe dair
miles
rch for
ililk, ice
E;
Sasterw ■
“Serving Texas Aggies”