Reveille (dog)
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, with a rank of "5 Diamonds" or Cadet General.
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 the dorms, specifically Legett hall[1], so they could take care of her. The next morning she was found when "Reveille" was blown by a bugler leading the dog to begin barking, hence Reveille became her name. Although it was against the rules to keep pets in the dorms, the Corps fell in love with the dog and kept her.
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.
Before naming Reveille II, there were several other unofficial mascots, such as Tripod, Spot, and Ranger. It was not until later when a registered purebred collie was selected as the next Reveille. 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]
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 severed 20 plus years as the veterinarian for Rev VI and her two predecessors, Rev IV and Rev 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.
Reveilles
Reveille I
Reveille I (Unknown – January 8, 1944)
Reveille II
Reveille II (Unknown – August 23, 1966)
Reveille III
Reveille III (Unknown – May 31, 1975)
Reveille IV
Reveille IV (Unknown – March 29,1989) [4]
Reveille V
Reveille V (August 29, 1984 – June 25,1999) [5]
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 the age of four months before the annual 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]
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 A&M-Texas Christian University 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 Jordan Caddick throughout the summer for her return for football season.[9]
Trivia
- If Reveille sleeps on a cadet's bed, the cadet must sleep on the floor.
- Freshmen Cadets address Reveille as "Miss Rev, ma'am."
- If Reveille barks in a class that is in session, the professor is to immediately dismiss the class.
References
- ^ "Purebred does not mean perfect" (HTML). The Battalion. 2002-10-03. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Reveille" (HTML). Aggie Traditions. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
- ^ "Reveille" (HTML). Find a Grave. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
- ^ "Reveille IV, Retired" (HTML). Class of 1953. 2004-05-06. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Retired A&M Mascot Put To Sleep Because Of Deteriorating Health" (HTML). AggieDaily. 1999-06-25. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Ferrell, Christopher (2003-10-21). "Reveille VI euthanized; funeral arrangements pending" (HTML). The Eagle. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help) - ^ "Reveille VI Passes Away" (HTML). Texas A&M University. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
- ^ "Reveille VII celebrates birthday" (HTML). The Battalion. 2001-10-10. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Reveille VII continues in summer obedience school" (HTML). The Battalion. 2002-04-29. Retrieved 2006-12-29.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)