By Edwin H. Cooper

On March 24-26, 2008 the A&M Class of 1953 joined the Sul Ross Group on the occasion of its 55 years since graduation from the University. If you add to the years as alumni the four years we were students, we have been in affiliation with A&M for 45% of the school’s existence since its beginning on October 4, 1876. We were informed at the reunion that on that date, 6 boys arrived at the college Station train depot to initiate an institution that soon will number 50,000 Do you remember anything about 1876 when A&M became reality? Well, Ulysses S. Grant was 18^th president of the U.S., Alexander Graham bell introduced the first telephone and General George Custer and troops were met at the Little Bighorn River by a large group of irritated Native Americans.

The Sul Ross Group is an assemblage of old guys whose class numbers have dwindled to the extent that they assemble as a cluster of smaller groups - - but all birds of a feather in their relation to Aggieland. This years Reunion dated back to characters whose class year was 1935. Some of those old timers take shorter steps, grip hand rails tightly, have short term memories, walk sideways and talk out of the side of the mouth – but their dedication to and spirit for Texas A&M defy imagination. Several times during the Reunion the love they expressed for the school brought tears to my eyes - - and I’m proud to be one among them and will cry openly when need be.

The Class of 1953 was the last of four A&M freshman classes who spent their first year [1949] on the A&M Annex - - now the Riverside Campus. The separation from the main campus was an effort to reduce hazing as conducted by most upperclassmen. The net result was that we suffered two years of hazing rather than one. There were some 1300 in our freshman class and total A&M enrollment hovered just under 7000. Even A&M staff members at orientation told us that if we were unhappy here that "Highway 6 runs both ways", which means you could go back home if you didn’t’ like the harsh conditions – and many did.

On the main campus we continued to use slang terms for the family style servings at meal times in the mess hall. Here are some: all meats were called "bull neck"; bread was referred to as "gun wadding"; catsup was called "blood"; milk simply was "cow"; salt and pepper were "sand and"; chopped meat in gravy served on toast was called "SOS" [the last two letters stand for ‘on shingles’.] Anything sweet was "cush".

At our meals at the Sul Ross Reunion, excellent food was served by the Hilton Inn, reunion headquarters. Before the first meal I told my classmates, "Well, we had steak at our 35^th reunion, fish at the 45^th and I expect we’ll see porridge and gruel at this one." I was wrong. We had good food.

As we all expected, topics during hospitality breaks at the Reunion loomed heavily toward health matters of our own plus those of classmates. The ’53 class ages hover between 75-78 years. Here are remarks I noted: "Edwin, If I fall down I can’t get back up by myself"’ "Boy has he gained weight - myself I’ve gained only seven inches around the waist since graduation." "His wife is down with Alzheimer’s"; "You know, my ankles have started swelling up". "I take only nine pills daily but still get up feeling bad in seven or eight places"; "Old Bill was stationed real near an artillery outfit and can’t hear rolling thunder – but he gets a ‘deaf check’ from the government every month"; "Old Charlie finally bought a hearing aid due to prompting from his family. But he came home one night and stomped on a roach in the bathroom which turned out to be his hearing aid."

After surgery, one classmate was given a prescription of a powerful medication. He asked his doctor how long he would be on that drug and the answer was, "For the rest of your life." Trembling he countered, "At the bottom of the label it says ‘no refills’". I could go on and on but desist at this point.

Speakers at our reunion included Dr. Elsa Murano, President of Texas A&M; Dr. Dean Bresciana, Vice President of Student Affairs, Lt. Gen. John Van Alstyne, Commandant of Cadets; Mike Sherman, Head Football Coach and Gary Blair, Head Coach of Women’s Basketball. Their remarks were terrific and warmed the hearts of all present.

We learned that current enrollment at A&M is 47,000 and very soon will reach 50,000. Currently A&M is the 6^th largest University in America. Admissions anticipate about 25000 applicants of all categories for the fall semester, 2008. Likely the freshmen admissions will be in the range of 7500-8000. Of current enrollment now, slightly more that 50% are women [including veterinary medicine]. The average SAT scores currently are just over 1200. In recent years, about 25% of the freshman class represent students who are the first in their families to enter college. The average faculty student ratio is 1 to 20, though some lecture sessions exceed 300 students.

In spite of high numbers, Aggies were described as exceedingly bright, spirited, loyal and dedicated to acts of kindness, both on and off campus.

Coach Mike Sherman received a lengthy standing ovation for his remarks. His comment: "I’ve never enjoyed an ovation such as yours because I know how difficult it is for you to leave your chairs."

Coach Gary Blair brought touching and humorous remarks about the Women’s Basketball team. He then faced Coach Sherman and said, Mike you are already more successful than I have been – having suffered no losses!"

Things have changed beyond belief from those days when the Class of ’53 entered the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. In 1949, the admission requirements were 1: At least 16 years of age. 2: Must be a high school graduate. 3: Must be free of infectious or contagious disease.

Thank goodness we don’t have to apply again.

Our Class Agents...past and present

    Dick Birdwell served 2003--2008                Red Scott, 2003--2013                                Gaston Detweiler, 2008-2013

And our reunion would not be complete without our one and only Yell Leader!