Spirit Archives

Spirit® is published three times per year by the Texas A&M Foundation, which manages major gifts and endowments for the benefit of academic programs, scholarships and student activities at Texas A&M University.

View the full magazine archive

Also In This Issue

Letters

Dog-Tired

As a member of the Class of 1965, I remember Ranger well. As the spring 2018 issue reported, everyone called him “Earl.” My favorite memory of him was from the library. While I was there one afternoon doing some research, I heard someone snoring loudly. Sometimes, students who were off-campus residents would nap in the library’s big, overstuffed chairs. The snoring became so loud that it disturbed my concentration, and students began looking around to see who was embarrassing himself. It turned out to be “Earl,” who had hopped onto one of the chairs, curled up for an afternoon nap and was sawing logs loud enough to be heard all over the reading room. It was a sad day when we learned “Earl” had died.

Jim McCollum '65
Great Falls, Montana

SHARE YOUR COMMENTS

We always enjoy receiving our readers' reactions to Spirit. If the magazine's content moves you to write, please email us at info@txamfoundation.com or submit a letter to the editor.

Ranger II sits with Bob Rudder and class vice president, Thomas Hargrove '66.

Dog Days of Summer

The article on Ranger in the spring 2018 issue was very well done and brought back many fond memories. In that time, Marks-A-Lot was on the market, and it was commonly used on Rudder’s (more commonly he was known as Rudder) side and behind for Corps outfit emblems, slogans and the like. You would see Rudder under your table at Sbisa or Duncan Dining Hall and later sleeping in the main hall of the Academic Building or, perhaps, in the back of a lecture hall.

Actually, Rudder was much more popular with students than Reveille II. You encountered Rudder around campus every day, but Reveille was only seen with Company E-2 marching to chow or on football weekends. If you were not in E-2 or their dorm, you seldom saw Reveille.

The Class of 1966 did give Ranger II to the Rudder family after the first Ranger died. The pup was presented by Thomas Hargrove ’66, the class vice president.

Jack Gaden ’66
Round Rock, Texas

Hitchhiking Hound

It was so good to see a picture of Ranger (who we also called Rudder) in the spring 2018 issue, as I had not seen him since I was an undergraduate at Texas A&M.

When I was a sophomore, we moved from the old Corps Dorm 12 to a new dorm near Sbisa Dining Hall. I had all my clothes in the car, clean and pressed to meet Corps standards. In driving to the new dorm, I encountered Ranger sitting in the middle of the road. As I approached, he jumped up and bit my car’s front grill. I tried everything to get him to move—honking, inching forward—but nothing worked and traffic was building up behind me. Finally, I got out of the car, picked him up and put him in the back seat. Tired from jumping on my car, he proceeded to slobber all over my uniforms. He was in my car until I got to the new dorm, making a huge mess of everything in the back seat. 

That is my most vivid memory of Ranger, because he cost me so much time and hassle. But I thought he was a very funny dog, and he was loved by everyone.
 
Dr. Clifford Fry ’67
College Station, Texas

It's a Dog's Life

Reading the article about Ranger reminded me of an experience I had with him, when some of my “buddies” decided to put him in my bunk. I got to my room about midnight, opened the door and heard quite a racket. Like most English bulldogs, Rudder snored. I reached around the corner, flipped on the light and there he was, fast asleep. I slept on the floor.

Dr. Eddie Joe Davis ’67
Bryan, Texas

Bon Appétit

Ranger was known to pull the knobs on the candy machines with his teeth. Occasionally, good fortune dispensed free candy, and usually he removed the wrapper. Company E-2 was especially fond of “seating” Ranger at a mess table with a senior’s hat and a napkin tucked into his collar. A freshman provided meal service by handing him chicken fried steaks. Anyone who had any contact with Ranger would believe even the tallest tale about him because they witnessed something at least as memorable.

Douglas Sharp ’67
Houston, Texas

Dr. Berry is the best at what he does. It has been 26 years since I served with him at Mays Business School’s Center for Retailing Studies, but his investment in me personally and professionally carries on today.

Kenny Gibson ’91
Montgomery, Texas

Dr. Red Duke ’50 was one hell of a man and a great Aggie doctor.

Barbara Bigley Czencz ’93
College Station, Texas

Yep! Ranger would roam campus, but stayed at President Rudder’s house. He would stand by the door at the Memorial Student Center until you let him in, and then follow you to the coffee area and beg for donuts. Great dog!

Roy Price ’69
New Braunfels, Texas

Members of the Corps of Cadets wrote more than just their outfit names on Ranger—usually a little more colorful language. Ranger often visited our house just south of campus. One time, when my mom hosted a party, all the women arrived to find Ranger lounging on our front porch greeting them with colorful language written all over him. Fun memories!

Nancy Lancaster Smith ’76
Wichita Falls, Texas

Tagged with:
Previous Article
Give Now  
Contact:

Dunae Reader '15

Assistant Director of Marketing & Communications/Spirit Editor