 eveille is missing—Reveille I's portrait that is. In fact,
it has been missing for a number of years. This rather
famous painting from years gone by appears to have disappeared
during a renovation to the Military Science Building (Trigon) and
has not yet found its way home to Aggieland. While the story
of the painting is well known to the students of the mid-1940's,
later classes would be hard pressed to even recognize the work.
Fortunately, a photograph of the painting surfaced this fall in a
newly acquired photograph collection in the Cushing Library.
It is, however, the story behind the painting and traditions of
Texas A&M that make an attempt to locate the portrait and
worthwhile project.
By late Fall of 1943, it became increasingly obvious
that Reveille was in failing health. As part of a wartime
fundraising drive to have Reveille commissioned a general in the
K-9 Division of the WAGS, members of General Reveille Fund
Committee decided to raise additional funds to have a portrait
made of the mascot as a tribute to her memory. The committee
placed collection boxes around the campus and students and faculty
alike donated what money they could to help fund the
project. Hard earned nickels, dimes and quarters rattled
into the boxes. Money was not plentiful on campus in 1943
and a donation by a student really meant something.
The committee commissioned Marie Haines,
a well known artist then living in College Station to undertake
the painting. Miss Haines had lived in the area for 15 years
and her work ranged from family portraits to murals in theaters
and schools. (The Cushing Memorial Library currently has a
Marie Haines painting of Gathright Hall on exhibit.) Haines
was an Ohio native with a national reputation. She was a
charter member
of the Southern States Art League. She had held exhibits of
her work in Cincinnati, Taos and Charleston. According to
the Battalion, the committee considered itself fortunate to
be able to acquire her services.
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On the evening of November 24, 1943, immediately after bonfire and
before the Thanksgiving dance, a crowd gathered around the
bandstand in Sbisa Hall to witness the presentation
ceremony. With an ailing Rev looking on, acting president
Frank C. Bolton unveiled the completed work. In a short
speech, Haines described the painting showing Reveille at what she
considered "the most beautiful time of day" in Aggieland—"retreat." In the background
of the painting is the Class of 1938 Memorial Fountain and the
Corps marching down Military Walk toward Sbisa.
After the Ceremony the painting was
placed on an easel in the lobby of the Cushing Memorial
Library. Later the painting was hung in a prominent place in
the library. At some point it was moved to the Military
Science Building were it remained until its disappearance a few
years ago.
While the monetary value of the painting
is unknown, its value to Aggies as part of A&M's history is
priceless and it should be returned for everyone to enjoy.
If anyone knows the location of Reveille I's portrait they can
contact David L. Chapman '67 at 979-845-1951 or email him at
d-chapman@tamu.edu
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