With Pride and Honor

For almost 40 years, chimes from the Albritton Bell Tower have reverberated across central campus.

By Bailey Payne ’16

Lead photo provided by Texas A&M Marketing & Communications

Donated by Martha and Ford Albritton Jr. ’43, the 138-foot-tall Albritton Bell Tower was dedicated Oct. 6, 1984. When the sun lowers, the tower casts a formidable shadow across Old Main Road onto Simpson Drill Field, where Aggies can always be found studying or socializing until the night settles in.

Every 15 minutes, some of the tower’s Westminster chimes and 49 carillon bells sound, reverberating across central campus. The bells, which weigh a combined 17 tons, also play “The Spirit of Aggieland” at special events and hymns during Silver Taps.

The inscription on the bell bearing Ford Albritton’s name reads: “I sing for that part of my heart which has never left these hallowed halls.”

The tower’s namesake was a World War II veteran who served Texas A&M University as a regent before leading The Association of Former Students during the transformative presidencies of Maj. Gen. Earl Rudder ’32 and his successor, Jack Williams ’34. Albritton was also integral in establishing the President’s Endowed Scholarship, one of the most prestigious academic merit scholarships awarded by the university.

The bells bear inscriptions of quotes from members of the Albritton family and a speech from former Texas Gov. Richard Coke. Another inscription at its base simply reads: “I ring with pride and honor for all past, present and future students of Texas A&M University.”