Reveille is the official mascot of Texas A&M University. Students adopted the first Reveille, a mixed-breed dog, in 1931. The cadets raised $100 during World War II to make Reveille a general, as part of a fundraiser for the K-9 Corps. Reveille is the highest-ranking member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets as she is the only cadet to have five silver diamonds. Eight years after the first Reveille died, a graduate of the university donated a Shetland Sheepdog to be the second official Aggie mascot, Reveille II. The third Reveille was the first to be a purebred Rough Collie; all subsequent mascots have belonged to this breed. Reveille IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, and IX died in 1989, 1999, 2003, 2013, 2018, 2025 respectively. Reveille IX served from May 9, 2015, until her retirement on April 30, 2021. The current mascot, Reveille X, assumed her role as mascot on April 30, 2021, during the Corps of Cadets Final Review. All Reveilles to date have been female. When they die, the Reveilles are buried in a special cemetery located outside the north end of Kyle Field. The bodies are laid 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.
Reveille I Reveille I (died January 18, 1944)
In January 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, 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 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 Lieutenant Colonel and Cadet 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 was buried at the north entrance facing the scoreboard so that she can always watch the Aggies play.
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 Shetland Sheepdog to the students in 1952. Named Reveille II, the new unofficial mascot was cared for by the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band from 1952 to 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. 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 Quartermaster Company. The unit asked fellow students to donate money towards her but took responsibility for her daily needs. 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. Reveille II died in 1966 of kidney failure and arthritis.
Reveille III Reveille III (died May 31, 1975) Reveille III was the first of the Texas A&M mascots to be a pure-bred Rough Collie. She served as mascot from 1966 through 1975.
Reveille IV Reveille IV (died March 29, 1989) Reveille IV served as Texas A&M mascot from 1975–1984. Over 10,000 mourners attended her funeral on April 9. She was donated by veterinarian Tom Godwin of Deer Park, Texas, a member of the class of 1967.
Reveille V Reveille V (August 29, 1984 – June 25, 1999) Reveille V was a descendant of a championship purebred Rough Collie. She was chosen to be the mascot from a pool of 2000 puppies because of her lineage and her markings. 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 with one exception. During the 1987 corps trip, TCU officials refused to allow the Aggie mascot into the TCU stadium, citing a regulation disallowing live mascots at home games. She attended many home basketball, baseball, and volleyball games. A mischievous dog, Reveille V often stole erasers from chalkboards during class. 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. Later that month she relinquished her spot as mascot to Reveille VI. For the next six years she lived with a local veterinarian and graduate of Texas A&M, 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. Over 3,000 students and alumni attended the funeral, 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.
… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.
