Reveille (Texas A&M)

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Reveille is the official mascot of Texas A&M University. Students adopted the first Reveille, a mixed-breed dog, in 1931. To thank Texas A&M for its assistance during World War II, the US Army designated Reveille a Cadet General (5 diamonds), the highest ranking member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.

Eight years after the death of the first Reveille, a graduate of the university donated a Shetland Shepherd to be the second official Aggie mascot, Reveille II. The third Reveille was the first to be a purebred American Collie; all subsequent mascots have belonged to this breed. Reveille IV, V, and VI, died in 1989, 1999, and 2003 respectively. The current mascot, Reveille VII, has served since May 12, 2001, and will retire at the end of the 2007-2008 school year.

Upon her death, Reveille is buried in a special cemetery located outside the north end of Kyle Field. She is placed facing the south end zone and the scoreboard. After the addition to Kyle Field was built at the north end blocking the view of the scoreboard, a small scoreboard was placed outside the stadium, named the Reveille Scoreboard, so the tradition could live on.

Contents 1 Reveille I 2 Reveille II 3 Reveille III 4 Reveille IV 5 Reveille V 6 Reveille VI 7 Reveille VII 8 Reveille VIII 9 Daily life 10 Cemetery 11 See also 12 References 13 External links

[edit] Reveille I

Reveille I (Unknown – January 8, 1944)

In January of 1931, several members of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band were returning from a party in nearby Navasota, Texas when they unexpectedly hit a small black and white stray mutt. They brought the dog with them, and smuggled her into Legett Hall^[1], fully intending to take her to the vet school the next day. The next morning, her presence was made apparent when "Reveille" was blown by a bugler and the dog began barking, hence Reveille became her name.^[2] Although it was against the rules to keep pets in the dorms, the cadets fell in love with the dog and kept her anyway.^[1]

During the opening of football season, Reveille was named official mascot when she led the band onto Kyle Field for a half-time performance. She would wear a jacket with A&M colors and pace the sidelines during games.

Due to the quantity of officers and soldiers Texas A&M contributed to the US Armed Forces in World War II, Reveille was given the honorary title of Cadet General by the U.S. Army. Since that time, Reveille has worn the rank of Cadet General (5 diamonds). Since 5 diamonds are not manufactured, cadets align Cadet Colonel and Cadet Lieutenant Colonel rank on her uniform.

Upon her death on January 18, 1944, she received a formal military funeral on the fifty yard line in Kyle Field and then buried at the north entrance facing the scoreboard so that she can always watch the Aggies outscore their opponent.

[edit] Reveille II

Reveille II (ca. 1952 – August 23, 1966) Reveille II was the second official Aggie mascot. Eight years after the first Reveille died, the student body attempted to raise money to purchase a new mascot. After they failed to raise enough, Arthur Weinert, a graduate of the Class of 1900, donated a German shepherd to the students in 1952. Named Reveille II, the new unofficial mascot was unofficially cared for by the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band from 1952-1954. During the summer of 1954, a student found Reveille II wandering loose around campus. He and a classmate cared for her and then took her home with them for the rest of the summer. During the fall semester, she lived with one of the students, Sam Netterville, in his dorm room.^[3]

The university at the time refused to pay for the mascot's care. Netterville convinced the student senate to pass a resolution stating that Reveille's care would be provided by his unit, A Company. The unit asked fellow students to donate money towards her upkeep, but took responsibility for her daily needs.^[3]

Netterville took Reveille with him everywhere, including classes, thus launching the tradition of the mascot being escorted at all times. "Miss Rev," as they called her, marched with the Aggie Band at football games, but had a habit of relieving herself on the football field. Students often placed bets as to which yard line she would choose.^[3]

Reveille II died in 1966 of kidney failure and arthritis.^[3]

[edit] Reveille III

Reveille III (Unknown – May 31, 1975) Reveille III was the first of the Texas A&M mascots to be a pure-bred collie. She served as mascot from 1966 through 1975.^[4]

[edit] Reveille IV

Reveille IV (died March 29, 1989) Reveille IV served as Texas A&M mascot from 1975–1984.^[4] Over 10,000 mourners attended her funeral on April 9.^[5]

[edit] Reveille V

Reveille V (August 29, 1984 – June 25, 1999) ^[6] Reveille V was a descendant of a chamionship purebred American collie. She was chosen to be mascot from a pool of 2000 puppies because of her lineage and her marking. In December 1984, Reveille V was brought to the Texas A&M campus, and her first official appearance as mascot came at a basketball game on January 11, 1985. During her tenure, she attended every Texas A&M football game, all home basketball games, and many baseball and volleyball games. A mischievous dog, Reveille V often stole erasers from chalkboards during class.^[6]

In early November 1993, Reveille V underwent emergency surgery for gastric volvulus, which causes an animal's stomach to twist out of place. The surgery was successful, and she made a full recovery.^[7] Later that month she relinquished her spot as mascot to Reveille VI.^[8] For the next six years she lived with a local veterinarian and graduate of Texas A&M, Dr. Joe West. Reveille V was euthanized in June 1999 because she suffered from arthritis and a neurological disorder. Her funeral was delayed until September to enable students to attend.^[8] Over 3,000 students and alumni attended the funeral,^[9] which included Taps, a prayer from a campus chaplain, and eulogies from her former handlers. Reveille V was initially buried at Cain Park on the Texas A&M campus, but her grave was relocated to the north end of Kyle Field once stadium renovations were finished.^[8]

[edit] Reveille VI

Reveille VI (September 3, 1993 – October 18, 2003) Reveille VI was a registered collie born in Woodward, Oklahoma and took over as Texas A&M's mascot from Reveille V during halftime of the football game against the University of Louisville on November 13, 1993. Upon induction into the Aggie family, she quickly assumed the roles and duties of her predecessor and began attending university functions including football games.

Shortly after beginning her duties, Reveille was stolen by a University of Texas at Austin student, Neil Andrew Sheffield. Prior to this time, Texas A&M was the only school in the Southwest Conference whose mascot had never been stolen. Reveille was taken over winter break. Because the school was closed for the vacation, Reveille was staying at the Dallas home of her handler, Jim Lively. Sheffield found Reveille alone in the back yard and lured her through the gate. For almost a week, Texas A&M denied that the mascot had been stolen. After the school finally acknowledged her disappearance, Sheffield tied her leash to a sign post near Lake Travis and called the police to report her location. She was returned unharmed to Texas A&M and resumed her duties.^[10]

Reveille VI became a movie star in the 1996 film "Reveille, My Life as the Aggie Mascot." She was in attendance with the Aggie football team during their first Big 12 Championship in 1998, and celebrated alongside President George W. Bush at the inaugural ball in Washington, D.C., in 2000.^[9]

In 1996, she was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy and later arthritis. Although for the next four years she was able to resist her ailments and continue with her duties as mascot, these health problems would eventually lead to her early retirement in May of 2001.^[9]

She was retired on May 12, 2001 into the care of Dr. Hall, who served as the veterinarian for Reveilles IV, V and VI.^[11] She celebrated her 10th birthday on September 3, 2003, at a party hosted by Hall and his wife, Diane. Reveille VI was in declining health and was said to be taking nine different pills and two forms of liquid medications each day to help combat seizures and other problems.^[9]

Six weeks later, on October 18, 2003, Reveille VI was euthanized. The decision was made by Hall and other Texas A&M veterinarians,because of her deteriorating health. Funeral services were held Sunday, November 2, 2003, at Kyle Field. Former mascot corporals Mark Boynton, Class of 1997, and Jeff Bailey, Class of 2000, spoke. Following the funeral service, Reveille VI was buried among earlier Reveilles at the north entrance to Kyle Field.^[12]

[edit] Reveille VII

Reveille VII (born October 9, 2000) Reveille VII is a registered collie born in Argent Kennel, which is part of the Animal Hospital of Ft. Lauderdale. She was donated to Texas A&M by Dr. Cindi Bossart, VMD, her husband Jim Efron and breeder Nancy MacDonald. Reveille arrived on campus on February 16, 2001 and officially took over duties from Reveille VI at the Corps of Cadets Final Review on May 12, 2001.^[11]

After a pre-game performance of the Texas A&M-Texas Christian game in December, Reveille's nervous, high-pitched barks could be heard above the band. It was decided by administrators and the Corps of Cadets that she be sent to obedience school. She worked closely with her professional trainer, Dr. Kay Stephens, and her newly-appointed mascot corporal throughout the summer for her return for football season.^[13] Despite several stints in obedience school, Reveille's manners at times need work, and in 2004 she bit several cadets.^[14] Though other incidents have been suspected, in 2007, it was reported that Reveille VII again bit her handler; however, this time, tail-stepping was cited as provocation for the incident.^[15] On February 13, 2008, her impending retirement at the end of the school year was announced at a news conference at the Corps Center.^[16][17]

[edit] Reveille VIII

Reveille VIII (TBA) will assume her duties as the official mascot of Texas A&M University before the Fall 2008 semester, following the retirement of her predecessor at the conclusion of the Spring 2008 semester. The only thing that is known at this point, for certain, is that there are more questions than answers; however some of those questions were alluded to in a memorandum released by Dr. Dean L. Bresciani, Vice President for Student Affairs, addressed to all Texas A&M students, faculty, and staff. The memo was also posted on the Texas A&M News & Information website.^[18]

One of the things that the memo revealed is that Reveille will remain a female. Also, she will be a “mature” female, defining mature as at least 1½ years old. The special committee assigned to look for Reveille VIII will have to look for a mascot that would be medium to large size, healthy, have a upbeat personality, be at ease around crowds and like people, be able to be calm around loud noises, and be positively motivated as well as not highly reactive. And perhaps most importantly, to prevent the behavioral problems seen in Reveille VII, “professional training protocols and oversight [are to] be established, implemented and periodically evaluated, [and will include] a transition period to help Reveille successfully acclimate to and carry out her role as the mascot of Texas A&M University.” (Official Texas A&M Memo)

[edit] Daily life

Reveille is officially cared for by Corps of Cadets Company E-2, known as the "mascot company". A sophomore in the unit is designated the "mascot corporal" and has ultimate responsibility for her care. Reveille accompanies the mascot corporal everywhere, including to class and on dates.^[19]

Reveille is considered a cadet general and the highest ranking member in the Corps of Cadets. To designate her rank, Reveille wears 5 diamonds on her maroon-and-white blanket.^[19] Freshmen cadets are required to address her as "Miss Rev, ma'am."^[4] Reveille is the only animal on campus, other than service animals, who is permitted to enter any campus building.^[19] So as not to inconvenience her, if Reveille decides to sleep on a cadet's bed, that cadet is required to sleep on the floor.^[20] By tradition, if she barks in class, that session is canceled.^[21] Reveille has her own cell phone, operated by the mascot corporal, and her own student identification card.^[22]

[edit] Cemetery

Texas A&M maintains a cemetery on campus where all of the past Reveilles are buried. Reveilles I through IV were buried side-by-side in a small cemetery in front of Kyle Field with their noses and paws pointed so that they could look through the north tunnel and see the stadium scoreboard. This way, "they can always watch the Aggies outscore their opponent on the field."^[19]

In 1997, the university decided to expand Kyle Field and build the Bernard C. Richardson Zone at the north end of the stadium. This necessitated the removal of the cemetery. After meeting with representatives of the Traditions Council, Student Senate, and E-2, the athletic department decided to create a temporary cemetery across the street in Cain Park. Upon completion of the stadium addition in 1999, the graves were relocated to a permanent cemetery at the new, tree-lined Kyle Field Plaza.^[19] Due to the recent additions the gravesites' view of Kyle Field were blocked, so a miniature scoreboard was constructed on the outside of the stadium so that the mascots can still watch the Aggies outscore their opponent.^[23]

[edit] See also

Traditions of Texas A&M University

[edit] References

• Burson, Rusty & Vanessa Burson (2004), written at College Station, Texas, Reveille: First Lady of Texas A&M, Texas A&M University Press, <http://www.tamu.edu/upress/BOOKS/2004/burson.htm>

[edit] External links

• Reveille I at Find A Grave

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