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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 27, 1984)
Monday, August 27, 1984/The Battalion/Page 9D /mbolizei ‘epa' I exas , idd refer J the a body, spj, la l poise i;; The i Powers heights ^ » symbolffli exas.autli) an of ' s encirdtj laurel lean it and a 4 e-oak > fight. Tie ibyadi ssityofjoit. ‘ its andei; : symboliu 1 fought fj mined to4 The fidence.Th ibolsofprt I he crossc ■s and Ttn pancetoar th the da the studen ance, whet the numlxi lam an.ff Boots identify senior cadets By DOLORES HAJOVSKY Reporter What’s in a hoot? A senior in the Corps of Cadets will tell you there is more than just leather. After three years, seniors earn the privilege of wearing calf- lengtli leather boots. It is a part of their uniform that distinguishes them from the rest of the Corps. Seniors began wearing boots in the early 1900s. About 1915, the Corps of Cadets adopted the uni form of the U.S. Army. Before that, the Corps used various uni forms including the gray uniform of the U. S. Military Academy. In 1925, cavalry boots were adopted as the standard uniform for se niors, the officers in the Corps. “During the early years, se niors wore their boots in parades and other university functions,” said Randy Cook, senior yell leader for 1985. “Eventually, they became a status (symbol) for the Corps of Cadets and Texas A&M.” The boots at first were passed on from cadet to cadet, Cook said, because they were consid ered nothing out of the ordinary. Johnnie Holick, owner of Ho- lick’s Boots and Insignia Mfg., probably knows more about se nior boots than anyone. His fa ther was asked by Lawrence Sulli- ra'n Ross, president of Texas A&M at the time, to open a boot making shop for the cadets in 1891. “There were many styles of boots, but most cadets were poor and wore anything they could find that was suitable,” Holick said. “English riding boots were popular but they were expensi ve. In 1926 Lucchese Boot Co. mass produced senior boots to fit tall or short cadets, Holick said. The trend toward custom-made senior boots was catching on. Holick designed the distinctive Aggie boot known today in 1931. He says it is better fitting than the English riding boot worn by some cadets. Holick said that by 1942 he was making about 800 pairs a year. Some cadets bought two pairs, one pair for riding horses with and one pair for dress. In 1932 the boots were $35, but today Holick gives the cadets an estimate of $440 a pair. After the six to seven months it takes to* make them the price can change, however. Today cadets get their boots handed down from fathers or brothers, bought second-hand from graduating seniors or cus tom made. All boots are the same basic style, and now the Village Cob bler and Victors also make senior boots locally. Because the boots are hand-made, they take longer to make. To be certain the boots are ready for senior year, many cadets order them at the end of their freshman year, Holick said. Photo by Karla James Much cherished senior boots are boastfully displayed by a cadet. oman cadet remembers shaky start mey for mbersjji sA&Mfe shying a«i lege age mi jmversitiaj o mucholi they wit kofit." irit? BeiM d said: At ;nt to All i giic m® m said, aim use A&M, w wing Ten t her Ajjiji -d side. t force l«t A&M> onsiderit tomew A&M,”^ Photo by Peter Rocha A female cadet undergoes the same rigorous routine that male cadets do. By JUDY OLIVER Reporter Roxie Prangline entered Texas A&M University as a freshman in 1974 without realizing the stand she would be making. At freshman orientation she made the decision to sign up for the Corps of Cadets in the first women’s outfit, Wl. “I thought it would be neat,” Prangline says. “I always knew I would come to A&M,” she says. “My uncle and grandfather both came here. Being from out of state I thought the only way to be involved in A&M was to be in the corps.” Prangline, who is Area Coordinator of the Corps of Cadets, says she disagrees witn that now. There are plenty of other organiza tions for students to get involved in, she says. Prangline remembers how the first semester the women didn’t have uniforms. “No one knew you were in the corps till you whipped-out to them,” she said. “There also was not a dorm for Wl so we lived off cam pus or in dorms with other students that first semester,” Prangline says. “We operated like a day-duck unit being required to sign in twice a day.’ “There was a lot of misunder standing to what we did,” Prangline says. “The guys thought we weren’t required to do the same things as them, like push-ups, but we were. Even though we lived apart from the corps we were checked on to see if we were studying and in on time.” The second semester Wl had uni forms and a dorm, she says. Prangline became the Command ing Officer of her outfit her senior year. The C.O. is supervisor of the outfit, responsible for the daily rou tine of the out fit. Prangline remembers how the guys ignored her when she was C.O. “I was not accepted,” Prangline says. “I had some friends among the other C.O.s, but not a close relation ship.” Prangline says there was a bond established between the women in Wl that will never be broken, even though they are miles apart. “It was the most beneficial experi ence I had ever had,” says Prangline. “That period in my life shaped me in terms of my personality and my level of self confidence.” A woman working within the mili tary lifestyle had to stand a lot of ha rassment from other people, Prang line says. She says it was not just from the corps but from civilian women also. Prangline says she stayed in the Corps of Cadets because of the insti tution she thought it could be. Women are pretty much accepted in the corps lifestyle now, Prangline says, there are more women in staff iositions and they are mote outspo- en. The areas they are not accepted in is due to a lack of effort on their own part, she says. “If asked if I would do it again, yes I would. I wouldn’t even tnink about it, I would do it again,” Prang line says. k< Special parents receive award By JIM BECKER Reporter ■ Each Spring, Aggies recognize llheir parents during Parents’ Week- |end. The highlight of the weekend (ibmes on Parents’ Day when the Ag gie Parents of the Year award is pre- !sented. It is based on their contribu- Idons to the University, their family and their community. The award, fell dates back to the early 1920’s, Ihas been changed several times. I It began as a mother of the year [award presented to an Aggie mom i on Mother’s Day. However, in 1969 pe date of the presentation was loved from May to April because raduation was changed to early fay. The award was altered again in 1174 when it was changed to Aggie arents of the Year. It has remained |iat way since. I Even though the award has un- lergone changes, its basis has re gained much the same - good par- jeming. But, what is good parenting, land who decides whose parents will lie selected as Aggie Parents of the Tear? J Parents of the Year for 1984 hies and Janice Uptrnore don’t be- :ve good parenting takes anything lecial. t “My husband and I haven’t done ything outstanding that any par- it wouldn’t do,” Janice Uptrnore lid. “We tried to be there when our ildren needed us and we tried to keep the communication lines open at all times. There’s nothing out standing about that.” Her statement is supported by her husband’s remarks at the presenta tion of the award this past Spring. “I know all you parents must share our excitement because it could have been any of you standing up here now instead of us,” Upt- more said. “We accept this award be cause of all of you and I hope you’ll accept it with us.” Tne Uptmores may not feel as if they have done anything special to become parents of the year, but for mer Parent’s Day Committee chair man Linda Thomas says they have. “Both of them have long histories of involvement with Texas A&M and with their community,” Thomas said. “They are also the epitome of a superb family.” The Uptmores’ in volvements are typical of the things the committee looks for when it chooses the Aggie Parents of the Year, Thomas said. The Parents’ Day Committee, which is made up of students, chooses the parents of the year from nominations by Texas A&M stu dents. Nominations can be made by any full-time students, and can be for the students own parents or someone they consider as parents. Students who wish to make a nomi nation must write a nominating let- ter and get at least three other letters from their parents’ friends or asso ciates. Parents of the Year get more than a title and a plaque. They receive 50- James and Janice Uptrnore, left, 1984 Parents of the Year. yardline tickets to all Texas A&M nome football games and are pre sented as the Aggie Parents of the Year during halftime at one of the games. They also receive invitations to many campus events during the year. Additionally, they help raise money for the development fund by writing a letter to other Aggie par ents asking for financial support. “Previously,the award has been thought of as an honor more than a position from which to accomplish something,” Thomas said. “Our committee was the really the first to try to get them to do something in addition to that honor. For example, we invited the Osborns (Aggie Par ents of the Year in 1983) to partici- N ate in the Student Conference On Jational Affairs.” Thomas said she hopes future parents of the year will be allowed to oecome more involved. Janice Upt- more said she and her husband are looking forward to any responsibili ties they may assume as parents of the year. “We’ll probably handle anything they ask us to do,” she said. “They could never ask too much.” The Uptmores will retain their ti tle until Parents Weekend next Spring when someone else’s parents will selected. Applications will be available at the beginning of the Spring semes ter. Books & More Parkway Square Texas Avenue & Southwest Parkway Between Kroger and Baskin-Robbins Reference SI .00 to S3.00 Paperbacks W Price Trade Books V4 Price Records $1.98 up Tapes S2.98 up Aggie Souvenirs Mon.-Sat. 9am-9pm Sun. noon-6pm SAVE s 20 YOUR CHOICE Reg. $99 ea. $ 79 ea. 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