Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutChronicles of Camaraderie 5.1.2003 r 1 0. 4- *'1 - qt;; p1/4 .,:r.t e # F v 1 ,1 lief., .,,,, f 4 0,' . 4 dowiti, 44 iS ...,,..„... .. - ....,t .. 1 -I :,,,,,,, ,. .. ... , . _.--1.,..-...-..-__ ....,.....„:,,,,,..........,.. , . , .......,.. ., , ,, , . ,. . . . , e F ,Iy i. V.:. '''''V'V‘'' \ \ -- 7 4 _ . ,,,,,_._. ?* Ac.,.. 4e'I ae.doo." X_ :._ 7* ,.-#'; t., . ' I: . '') z .. 4 1 - 4y - :-.- ,, / ,,,,.., % , ,..,.., , „,,,,..,,,,,,.. ‘,..\.„ . „. , .„....„,,,..... , ,,,, ,,,,.-„„.,...:„., . :„.. i ; ,,,, i0 . 1 " . .......... , „...,„,,,.. . „„:„.,.,..1/4,, 411c i r-C.NY , �Y 1 N�� r 1 CI A , '<4 ‘° I " I ''''' 4' 1 4 3 r 11Y a 4 . • it a ,,,,,,„,,,,,,,,,;?.....----,,,,,% c. ;� + N''': ''l 7,4. -.;- ,y.. :,. .0 - . ',, li\ - v..' '' . 41111 111111 f... .. ., . _.,..,., .:',, ,.:.'''' ,,, µ= 30 TEXAS AGGIE ` µ, TEXAS AGGIE MAGAZINE ARCHIVES THE ABOUNDING AGGIE SPIRIT CHRONICLES **** ***** o * ******** CAMARAD E RI E INCE THE BEGINNING OF ALUMNI ACTIVITIES JUST A FEW YEARS AFTER TEXAS A &M WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1876, THERE HAS BEEN A NEED TO COMMUNICATE WITH FORMER STUDENTS. INITIALLY, LETTERS WERE WRITTEN EACH TIME AN EVENT WAS PLANNED. THEN, IN THE EARLY 1890s, MEMBERS WHO PAID THEIR DUES RECEIVED THE MONTHLY COLLEGE JOURNAL, WHICH INCLUDED "ALUMNI NEWS AS CAN BE OBTAINED." IN 1893, THE JOURNAL WAS REPLACED BY THE BATTALION student newspaper, which continued the service. classmates and friends, delivered timely infor- At the beginning of the 1900s, the college -spon- mation about The Association of Former sored Alumni Quarterly was distributed and Students and Texas A &M, and helped preserve included regular reports of former students A &M- related history. From 1921 until 1965, as serving in World War I. a tabloid newspaper, it provided reports on By the early 1920s, the need for more frequent new job assignments, marriages, births, cam - alumni communications was evident, and then- pus developments and growth, Association A &M President W. B. Bizzell called the appoint- programs, and significant individual awards , .r ment of William B. Cook '02 and establishment and accomplishments. e of the Texas Aggie in May of 1921 "important The Texas Aggie announced the creation of matters in connection with the larger program of the Student Loan Fund in the March 22, 1922 the former students of this institution." issue. In early 1923, the Texas Aggie published an Early editions of the Texas Aggie were filled elaborate class reunion schedule for the next with organizational matters, local club announce- decade that guaranteed each class a reunion ments, a "loyalty quiz," and a list of "100% A &M every five years and grouped four or more class - Men" (i.e. dues payers). The first printing of the es to increase interaction. words of J. V. Pinky Wilson's "Aggie War Hymn" In 1924, Cook resigned and was replaced by occurred Nov. 15, 1921. Coverage of the Dixie World War I hero and former A &M Commandant Classic was extensive the following January, as the Ike S. Ashburn. He gave added emphasis to The the Aggie victory over Centre College gave birth Association's very first annual fund campaign in to A &M's 12th Man tradition. which contributions and pledges replaced dues. A co o the Alumni Over the years, the Texas Aggie has updated This led directly to the establishment of The py f Quarterly (left center) featuring the World War I Service Flag and the former students on the achievements of their Association as a non -profit corporation in 1925. Carly Texas Aggie newspaper are surrounded by magazines from the past 40 years 1 I I u li ) r iz r C O O i' I i; o MAY 2003 31 GGI. The first printing of the words of J. V Pinky Wilson's "Aggie War Hymn" occurred Nov. 15, 1921. , O ,fRX►.S „GOOD 8 W Nl�° • n s,,„0,..,..., •tea Att'i itQCtOY' +ry0 s A •& i h Sand .}]ilso0, , ,„„e 7 Ge o aalby ".pj0hy'. m /kl ' . ,,.. C „Oeeh, „ him , U d W .ht as ,, g ORa by to le.- 0ge o Texas e ; g Go to the r th SG '' thehboys % p 'Ur ae ' , Tbe9 r yes of �g th tag a s it9, E T . fi g " I'D i the Texas t y o,, a ll ter" os goo d t h to heat dM. :Lit f re go i � n' o saT4 eTA et Texas A' n, Tex r , f- .. t Cti Cftist4ta Iv0 08 t R a St4 w Co llege Su' Co4inght 1 Former assistant Everett E. McQuillen '20 spirit that brings A &M men together this one tos and included the first full color covers in took over when Ashburn resigned in 1927 night of the year is a vital element.” the publication's history. Although the large and by taking voluntary salary cuts and par - When McQuillen resigned after 20 years to format only lasted one year, it was a year to ing costs, he and the small staff kept the direct the Texas A&M Development Fund, J.B. remember and the magazine cataloged every fi office and the newspaper going through the "Dick" Hervey '42 was named executive secre- detail. It reported The Association Council rough years of the Depression. It was during tary. With the advent of the Korean War in resolution that helped open the door to the this period that efforts were initiated to 1950, pages again carried news from the battle enrollment of women at A &M and voluntary more effectively recruit students into the front and maintained continuous contact with membership in A &M's Corps of Cadets. This activities of The Association even before Aggies serving their country around the world. was the year the Century Club became the they graduated. The publication delivered annual fund reports, foundation of annual giving and computing As the conflict with Japan and then reported the yearly club officer and lass agent came to campus as the Data Processing Germany gained momentum in 1942, The conferences, and listed worldwide Aggie Center opened. Texas Aggie was announcing plans for the Muster locations. The Texas Aggie adopted its current size Development Fund, which introduced the A &M English professor Karl Elmquist in March 1966. In September, Joe J. Buser '59 concept of annual giving and recognized all became associate editor in February 1955 and was named editor, a post he held for two Aggies as members of The Association. Each was named editor in October. Throughout his years. During his tenure the magazine ran donor was promised his own copy of each decade at the helm, the Texas Aggie continued historical articles about A &M students issue of the Texas Aggie. its important task of covering the myriad broadcasting the very first football play -by- World War II generated a steadily news of Association and A &M progress as play in history, key faculty members in increasing stream of news from former stu- well as the ongoing parade of achievements A &M's early years and Marvin H. Mimms '26 dents stationed across the globe. Aggies win- by former students. writing the A &M alma mater, "The Spirit of . ning commendation awards and accepting The Association's construction of the All- Aggieland." It chronicled the world record promotions and significant duty assignments Faiths Chapel, initiation of the Faculty shot put by J.R. "Randy" Matson '67 and the filled the pages. McQuillen's staff managed to Awards program, increased emphasis on the amazing 1967 football championship season. maintain solid, up -to -date mailing lists and annual fund, the Association's first major There was an examination of off - campus liv- initiated the world -wide Aggie Musters we long -range study, and establishment of the ing (a growing phenomenon at the time), have today following the historic April 21 Distinguished Alumnus Award program and "Letters from Vietnam" provided a close - message from Corregidor in 1942. The fol- highlighted this period. up look from those who were there. ` lowing year, the Texas Aggie publicized In February 1965, Karl Elmquist moved R.C. "Connie" Eckard '55 took over as Muster plans, with McQuillen emphasizing: the Texas Aggie into a new era as an oversize editor in October, 1968 just as a long -range "The size of the muster is not important. The magazine. The new format meant large pho- study by The Association began to produce 32 TEXAS AGGIE r r changes and the University was poised to begin two decades of tremendous growth. Indicative of the changes taking place were stories about two female nuclear engineering ��� students, establishment of the President's �P Endowed Scholars program, and dedication �,/ of a new memorial to those who died in the Korean and Vietnam wars and while serving in the military since World War II. A story ------— about former Aggie quarterback Maj. Don 3u"� t Ellis '54 piloting an A-37 jet in close air sup��� , port in Vietnam preceded a historical writeup o „ t „"„dmx ' ' .'0 f on women at A&M in the 1800s. A history of the Aggie Ring appeared shortly before the " "° ll' VP announcement of the Memorial Ring t'E A' y s 1 t Collection created by James Bedford "Josh” s ��` ° Sterns '99. The death of A&M President Gen. cw55*�^ m d F J. Earl Rudder '32 in 1970 filled the magazine t with accolades from the White House and tributes from across the nation. A steady stream of stories of about Aggie t . POWs and MIAs in Vietnam began with '` writer Joe Dan Boyd '57 accompanying mil- lionaire H. Ross Perot and the wives of those `` .. missing in action to North Vietnam. jse Jerry C. Cooper '63 became the editor of f the magazine in September 1971. Serving '� -• through three decades, Cooper became a key ,. -- ' source for information on campus events, and . documented well what has become A&M his- S e A ' --- tory. The return of four Aggies who had been rEVAS AaM uN. � 1 M o R 1 n i ,,; held captive in North Vietnam, the opening of 1 s the Forsyth Alumni Center in the MSC, and gs` development of the President's Endowed -"It A -- , �1, Scholars program were key elements. The r • w O C t A t 4 ' 4 A-44.11 Texas Aggie celebrated the 50th anniversary of rrr f N OF F O R M E the Association Charter in 1975 alon with R S T U D E N g y rs helping launch and promote the fledgling / ' Texas A&M University Press operation. This year marked the magazine's largest edition +' ever with the 120 -page University Centennial { issue, which included a specially -written 32- page Journal of A&M History. Coverage of the Memorial Student Center's 25th anniversary, women entering the Corps of Cadets, the opening of the y Appelt Visitor Information Center, and excerpts from The Association history writ - R ten by John A. Adams Jr. '73 filled pages The Texas Aggie throughout the 1970s. As Texas A &M contin- ' .. honored Agg ies ued the phenomenal growth begun in the , serving in the 70s, the 1980s brought reports of Gen. Middle East and Bernard Schriever '31 being inducted into the the 12 who died Aviation Hall of Fame, the Student in the 1999 Conference on National Affairs bringing Bonfire collapse. notable speakers to campus each year, and the retirement of long -time Texas Aggie Band Director E.V. Adams '29. As the Clayton W. Williams Jr. Alumni Center began to take shape, its progress was MAY 2003 33 r TE XAS Command A new century brought a report on is Air Forces in the first Aggie Governor of Texas, Rick Operation Perry '72, a collection of Aggie Ring sto- Desert Storm, ries and the Aggie Ring of Medal of lggies in 1rit, ?i was in the Honor winner Lt. Turney W. Leonard '42 same me issue. found its way back to campus more than Rush Edeicat�vn . In 1992, mag- half a century after it was found on a 1,'brar & (on y ` azthe pages car- World War II battlefield. The Texas Aggie ( ri ce Ce nt ried an extended introduced readers to the new Association . excerpt of Softly website as well as a new executive director, ' \ ` Call The Muster, Porter Garner '79. The magazine celebrat- t °° the history of what ed the return to Aggieland of Robert Earl - Z.I ` is perhaps A &M's Keen '78 and Lyle Lovett '79 for the most revered tradi- Bonfire Benefit concert in 2000. tion, written by John In the aftermath of the September 11, A. Adams Jr. '73. The 2001 attacks on New York's World Trade 1990s also marked the Center and the Pentagon, the Texas Aggie first commencement chronicled the work of five students who speech by a sitting organized the sale of 70,000 t -shirts that President when George painted the Kyle Field stands red, white and H. W. Bush visited cam- blue for the Oklahoma State football game. pus. He installed a large Dr. Robert M. Gates was named the 22nd at }- a piece of the recently President of Texas A &M University in 2002, e demolished Berlin Wall on marking a new era for Aggieland. Late the campus and plans were same year, the Texas Aggie took on a new look begun for his Presidential and reorganization, featuring an Aggie Ring Library which would open in on its cover, and continued to report campus 1997. This decade also news, accolades for former student's achieve- - '' ' °' -''.- ' ' '''''P ' brought two new statues to ments, along with feature stories targeted at campus, one of A&M President audiences from the classes of the 30s through Market research and increased emphasis on effective professions to Gen. J. Earl Rudder '32 and the 90s and into the new millineum. munication led The Association to update, reorganize and redesign the "Danger 79er," a life - size rendi Even as The Association changes to meet Texas Aggie to serve an increasingly diverse constituency. tion of much - decorated Lt. Gen. the needs of Texas A &M University and the James F. Hollingsworth '40. The Texas Aggie growing Aggie Network, the purpose of the reported in a series of fictional "Letters to Joe," Band was saluted on its 100th anniversary and Texas Aggie remains to communicate with which helped guarantee that pledges covered a special all-Aggie Vietnam flight mission was former students and foster the connection the entire cost of the building before it was ded- recalled 25 years after it happened. that binds Aggies to each other and to the icated in August 1987. Association members As the 20th Century came to a close, the greatest university in the world. • read the stories of the Albritton Bell Tower, the Texas Aggie reported the results of first Aggie astronaut, Maj. William A. Pailes '81 Association market research that provided and were introduced to the superb aviation art insight into the interests and demographics EDITORS THROUGH THE YEARS of Keith Ferris '50, who will have an exhibition of the rapidly growing former student popu- at the George Bush Presidential Library this fall. lation. In 1999, The Association announced The opening of the Sam Sanders Corps of the launch of a new Association brand, and WILLIAM B. CooK (1921 - 1924) Cadets Center and the issuing of videotapes Brand Manager Amy Glass '92 joined The of the World War II movie about A &M, Association team. Under Glass' direction, the MG IKE S. AsHBURN (1924 1926) "We've Never Been Licked," hit the maga- Texas Aggie gradually began to take on a new, zine's pages in the 1990s. The first half of updated look, and effort was made in every EVERETT E. MCQuILLErt'20 (1927 - 1947) 1991 was devoted to coverage of Aggies' issue to provide news and features that involvement in the Persian Gulf War and list- appealed to each of The Association's distinct J.B. "DICK" HERVEV (1947 - 1955) ings of more than 250 known to take part in market segments. KARL. ELMQUIST (1955 - 1966) that conflict. Late that year, as the Corps of The magazine helped identify faces on Cadets came under fire from faculty mem- the famous 1946 Corregidor Muster photo, JoE J. BusER (1966 - 1968) bers and others who wanted to see it dis- and announced Vision 2020, another far - banded, the Texas Aggie gave extensive cover- reaching study directing A &M's future. A R.C. "CONNIE" ECKARD '55 (1968 - 1971) age to a press conference The Association special memorial issue of the Texas Aggie was organized to defend the Corps. A lengthy JERRY C. COOPER (1971 - 2002) g rp gthy published in November and captured the interview with Maj. Gen. Thomas Olson '56, story and emotions surrounding the tragic JOAN F. TnTCE (2002 - PRESENT) deputy commander of the U.S. Central collapse of the 1999 Aggie Bonfire. 34 TEXAS AGGIE r COMMEMORATING THREE DECADES * * * * * * * ** of SERVICE * * * * * * * ** "The Texas Aggie... is more than words and pictures on paper. In many ways, it is the catalog of the people, events, and circumstances that make up the essence of the Aggie Spirit:" Texas Ac '41 University: A Pictorial History -2nd edition, 1996 A S THE TEXAS AGGIE magazine's longest sitting a walking tour of the Texas A&M campus with Henry Dethloff in editor — having served The Association and Texas A&M 1991. composed the wording on the 12" Man statue describ- for more than three decades —Jerry Cooper '63 is a ing that tradition, and took the copyrighted photograph of the veritable human almanac of Aggie history and lore. From the -_ Red, White and Blue Out at Kyle Field that has raised more early 1970s through the 1990s and into the dawn of a new r€ ' than $8.000 for the September 11 Relief Fund. millennium, Cooper chronicled the stories that shaped Texas "° ` Jerry also worked with Maj. Gen. Tom Darling '54 to arrange A &M and Texas Aggies, and continues today to lend his l an exhibition of aviation art by Keith Ferris '50. which will open #, knowledge to such efforts as the History of Aggies in the at the Bush Library in September 2003. "It took me 10 years, Military project. but it will be worth it." he says. Jerry says he never planned to be a magazine editor, and -; Jerry's knowledge of A &M history has been decades in the describes the job interview with then Association officers Les making, and has earned him the respect of some of Texas Appelt'41 and Bob Latimer '44. and Executive Director Buck A &M's most notable leaders and historians. Weirus'42 as the strangest he ever had. A "I will always treasure my contact with the many quality "My wife and I met with them in a nondescript motel on JERRY COOPER '63, individuals who have contributed unselfishly of themselves Houston's Katy Freeway," Jerry recalls. ''It wasn't until after I had Texas Aggi editor 1971 - 2002 and their resources for Texas A &M," Jerry says. "I've gained been named editorthat I reviewed the list of candidates and real- countless friends through the years." ized that everyone else on there either had a better job or was making better money than Jerry's 1963 Classmates honored his service to the magazine with the presenta- 1 was at the Galveston Daily News." tion of a plaque inscribed with words to reflect their appreciation. It reads. "Heartfelt Even so, Jerry's experience as a news writer served him well as he shifted the thanks for more than three decades of dedicated and unselfish service to Texas A&M. focus of the Texas Aggie from features to place more emphasis on providing timely its students and former students as editor of the Texas Aggie magazine." news from campus and of former students. His first day on the job, he hopped on a Jerry's friendships with the likes of John Adams '73, Haskell Monroe, and Texas university plane to Tyler and covered an A &M Club meeting hosting local Cub and A &M Archivist David Chapman '67. were born of a shared love and devotion to Texas Boy Scouts. There was no shortage of Aggie news, as Jerry established relationships A &M and the preservation of its history. Certainly, Texas A &M. Texas Aggies and The with former students and took advantage of the ever growing Aggie Network. Association will continue to benefit from Jerry's vast knowledge and dedication to Frank Sherrill '51. the Evans Press account representative at the time. made sure Jerry Aggieland as he lends both to future projects that will preserve our Aggie heritage and had someone to help him learn the magazine trade by connecting him with Fort Worth document for posterity the lives and times that continue to define the Aggie Spirit. designer Harry Bury. In addition to his work supporting ongoing projects archiving Texas A &M history. "Harry was the only designer 1 ever worked with who thoroughly read every word of copy Jerry is now working in real estate sales with Century 21 Beal in College Station. before proceeding with the layout" Jerry said. He educated me on magazine production, tr;: a ' +,: , and was always quick to point out orphans and widows on the galley proofs." IL 1 17 Having started as editor in the day of manual typewriters and typesetters, Jerry is I proud to report that the magazine was the first departn ent at The Association equipped with desktop computers. Jerry reminisced that the two IBM 8088s had bad a *y. , mother boards and had to be exchanged immediately. Even with the introduction of .40"11111A ' . . it computers to the process, the paste -up procedure remained the same even ater t, `` ` Tom Rowell was hired as designer in 1974. Computerized layouts came along in the early 1990s after Rowell retired. — Though the magazine was a significant job in itself, Jerry took on other major proj ects during his tenure, including the triennial Directory of Former Students. In that '. time, The Association published 10 books, which gradually increased in size as the number of students on campus increased, and the former student population boomed.` "I created a comprehensive chronology of Texas A &M and Association history to include in the Directory, and we updated with each new edition," Jerry explains. "- Jerry consulted on the production of some two dozen books about Texas A &M, Fred Lubin '63 presents .terry Cooper '63 with a plaque from the Class of 9963 ranging from children's books to definitive history volumes, co- authored " Footsteps,' recognizing .terry's 11 years of service as editor of the Texas Aggie magazine.