Aggieland is mourning the death of the retired mascot of Texas A&M University.
Reveille VII passed away Wednesday night at the age of 12.
University and Corps of Cadets officials say plans for a suitable memorial service will be announced as soon as details can be finalized. University officials note in planning a suitable memorial service for Rev. VII, they will take into consideration the fact that most students will not return to school until the fall. When Rev. VII’s predecessor died, which also occurred during the summer, the ceremony was deferred until after the start of the fall semester.
The American Collie, born October 9, 2000, served A&M from parents weekend in 2001 through May 2008.
In retirement, the collie lived with Paul (A&M class of 1966) and Tina Gardner of College Station. Their son Todd, class of ’94, was a handler for Reveille as a member of the Corps of Cadets Company E-2.
Paul Gardner says Reveille VII died following complications from surgery earlier in the week following a ruptured ulcer in her G-I tract.
In retirement, Gardner says Reveille VII kept her regal prescence, noting when she laid down and you had to get by “you would have to step over because she wouldn’t move. And she’d look right at you and just say ‘You know, I haven’t had to move before and I’m not going to start now.’ ”
Gardner says he and his wife “had nothing but happiness” with Reveille VII. “She was truly a dog that when everybody met her, they liked her.” “She’s just a sweet dog. You can pet her and pull on her ears and darned near do anything and she would just sit there and look at you.”
University officials say the Gardners established a fund in 1998 to help cover out-of-pocket expenses for the cadet in Company E-2 designated to be the mascot’s primary handler. Additionally, they established a $50,000 endowment for the benefit of the Small Animal Clinic at the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences “to give back to the university for the prestigious honor of taking care of Reveille VII during her retirement.”
Paul Gardner visits with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.
Background information about Reveille is courtesy of A&M:
Reveille, the first lady of Aggieland, is the official mascot of Texas A&M University. She is the highest ranking member of the Corps of Cadets being the only bearer of five silver diamonds.
Reveille I came to Texas A&M in January 1931. A group of cadets hit a small black and white dog on their way back from Navasota. They picked up the dog and brought her back to school so they could care for her. The next morning, when “Reveille” was blown by a bugler, she started barking. She was named after this morning wakeup call. The following football season she was named the official mascot when she led the band onto the field during their half-time performance. When Reveille I died on January 18, 1944, she was given a formal military funeral on the gridiron of Kyle Field. She was then buried at the north entrance to the field, as all Reveilles are, 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 a later Reveille that she was a full-blood Collie. The most current Reveille is Reveille VIII who was introduced in August 2008.
Reveille is the most revered dog on campus. Company E-2 has the privilege of taking care of Reveille. If she is sleeping on a cadet’s bed, that cadet must sleep on the floor. Cadets address Reveille as “Miss Rev, ma’am.” If she is in class and barks while the professor is teaching, the class is to be immediately dismissed.
Reveille is a highly cherished mascot and receives only the best.