Reveille (Texas A&M)

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Reveille is a purebred American collie and Texas A&M University's official mascot. Now at Reveille VII, she was not the only mascot A&M had nor was she always a purebred collie. Reveille stands proudly today as the "First Lady of Texas A&M" and the highest ranked member of the Corps of Cadets as a Cadet General.

Contents 1 History 2 Modern Reveille 3 Reveilles 3.1 Reveille I 3.2 Reveille II 3.3 Reveille III 3.4 Reveille IV 3.5 Reveille V 3.6 Reveille VI 3.7 Reveille VII 4 Trivia 5 References

[edit] History

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 Leggett 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. Although it was against the rules to keep pets in the dorms, the cadets fell in love with the dog and kept her anyway.

During the opening of football season, Reveille was named official mascot when she lead 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. Reveille was then given the highest rank as an official member of the Corps of Cadets, a Cadet General. 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.

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. Before naming Reveille II, there were several other unofficial mascots, such as Tripod, Spot, and Ranger. It was not until later in the school's history when a registered purebred collie was selected as the next official mascot; the name Reveille was retained. All past Reveilles are buried side by side at the north entrance to Kyle Field.^[2]

When Texas A&M announced they were going to remodel the north side of Kyle Field and the cemetery containing former Reveilles would be moved, it caused a rouse among students. Eventually a compromise was reached within the student body and administration allowing for the cemetery to be relocated to a temporary site in nearby Cain Park. Upon completion of construction it would be moved back to a permanent resting place at the new Kyle Field Plaza, also know as Bernard C. Richardson Zone, constructed in 1999. Due to the recent additions the gravesites' view of Kyle Field were blocked, so a miniature scoreboard was constructed in view so that the mascots can still watch the Aggies outscore their opponent.^[3]

[edit] Modern Reveille

The most current Reveille is Reveille VII who was inducted during Parents Weekend in April 2001 while Reveille VI was given to Dr. and Mrs. Charles Hall of College Station, Class of 1954, who served 20 plus years as the veterinarian for Reveille VI and her two predecessors, Reveille IV and Reveille V. Reveille is looked after by a "mascot corporal", a sophomore cadet who belongs to Unit E-2, designated as the "mascot company". It is a highly prestigious position, but entails a great deal of responsibility. Reveille is allowed to return to the home of her "mascot corporal" during the summer months as a means to bond before the upcoming year.

[edit] Reveilles

[edit] Reveille I

Reveille I (Unknown – January 8, 1944)

[edit] Reveille II

Reveille II (Unknown – August 23, 1966)

[edit] Reveille III

Reveille III (Unknown – May 31, 1975)

[edit] Reveille IV

Reveille IV (Unknown – March 29, 1989) ^[4]

[edit] Reveille V

Reveille V (August 29, 1984 – June 25, 1999) ^[5]

[edit] Reveille VI

Reveille VI (September 3, 1993 – October 18, 2003), 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.

During her tenure as mascot, she survived a prank kidnapping by a group of students from the University of Texas at Austin at the age of four months before the annual Texas A&M - Texas game. She eventually was found tied to a tree near a lake in Austin and is in the history books as the only A&M mascot to ever have been stolen. She also became a movie star in the 1996 film "Reveille, My Life as the Aggie Mascot."

Reveille VI 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.

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.

She was retired into the care of Dr. Hall, and his wife, who served as the veterinarian for Reveilles IV, V and VI. Reveille VII assumed the duties of mascot for Reveille VI at Final Review May 12, 2001.

She celebrated her 10th birthday on September 3rd, at a party hosted by Hall and his wife, Diane, who had taken care of her for almost 2 1/2 years. 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.^[6]

She was euthanized Saturday, October 18, 2003, at the age of 10. Dr. Charles Hall as well as other Texas A&M veterinarians, made the decision based on the status of her debilitating health. Funeral services were held Sunday, November 2, 2003, at 2 p.m. in Texas A&M University's Kyle Field where 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.^[7]

[edit] Reveille VII

Reveille VII (October 9, 2000 – Current), is a registered collie born in Argent Kennel, which is part of the Animal Hospital of Ft. Lauderdale and donated by Dr. Cindi Dossart, her husband Jim Efron and breeder Nancy MacDonald. She came to campus Feb. 16, 2001, and officially took over duties from Reveille VI at the Corps of Cadets Final Review on May 12, 2001.^[8]

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.^[9]

[edit] Trivia

• If Reveille sleeps on a cadet's bed, the cadet must sleep on the floor.
• Freshmen cadets address Reveille as "Miss Reveille, ma'am."
• Traditionally, if Reveille barks during a class that is in session, the professor is to dismiss the class.

[edit] References