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Saddled With Love: Parsons Mounted Cavalry Honors the Legacy of Two Dedicated Donors

Two horses in Parsons Mounted Cavalry share a special connection to dedicated donors Kay and Charlie Pence ’51.

By Ryan Williamson ’24

Photography by Josh Huskin

It felt like a meeting of old friends in Aggieland, though Kay Pence had never met the two horses before. But Mollie and Millie—quarter horses and recent additions to Parsons Mounted Cavalry—hold heartfelt meaning for Kay, as they not only strikingly resemble but also share the names of two beloved mares that once belonged to her late husband, Charlie ’51.

Kay and Charlie, a West Texas native who ranched and worked horses, shared a deep sense of patriotism and love for Aggieland that has manifested in countless scholarship endowments for the Corps of Cadets and support for Parsons Mounted Cavalry. The cavalry, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023, is the largest and longest continually operating collegiate mounted unit in the country and represents Texas A&M University at Aggie athletic events, parades and ceremonies across Texas.
 

The Pences connected with the cavalry nearly a decade ago after Charlie experienced health issues and underwent back surgery. Kay reached out with a simple request: help Charlie ride a horse one last time. The unit happily obliged, and Charlie spent an hour and a half doing what he loved most. “That day, he stood a little taller,” Kay expressed. “He told me, ‘There’s nothing in the world you could have given me that was as good as getting back on a horse again.’”

Their connection to the unit only deepened with time, and in recognition of Charlie’s passing in 2023, the cavalry held a special celebration of life at Fiddler’s Green, its headquarters. Today, Kay continues to honor Charlie’s legacy through philanthropy, including a recent gift to the unit that funded a new truck for its fleet.
 


To recognize the gift and the Pences’ longtime support for the Corps, the cavalry asked Kay to name two new horses it received from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice last September. After noticing the resemblance to two horses Charlie had once rehomed, Kay suggested the names Mollie and Millie.
 

Money is chaff. It’s what you do with it that counts. So, do something that lights you up.
- Charlie Pence ’51

Mollie, age 15, is calm and seasoned, while Millie, age 8, is an incredible athlete and light on her feet. Mollie regularly works with another of Kay’s campus philanthropic passions: the Courtney Cares Equine Therapeutic Program, which partners with Parsons to provide equine-assisted activities and therapy for local veterans and children as well as adults who have physical or cognitive conditions.

“It was priceless to meet Mollie and Millie,” Kay said. “We took them on a walk and fed them apple slices. Millie really liked the apples. Mollie—not so much. I loved seeing their personalities.”

As she reflected on meeting her new four-legged friends, Kay emphasized the importance of contributing to passion areas, particularly to high-need, high-impact programs. She shared that, spoken like a true rancher, Charlie always said, “Money is chaff. It’s what you do with it that counts. So, do something that lights you up.”
 

 

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  • Kelly Corcoran '95

  • Chief Development Officer
  • Corps of Cadets
  • Call: 979.314.9475

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