Reveille, First Lady of A&M
College Station, Texas
Died - Various
Texas A&M University is fanatically devoted to its pet mascots -- even the dead ones. A succession of "Reveille" dogs had been buried at the north entrance to Kyle Field, so they could watch a freshman cadet update the scoreboard.
The first Reveille was injured stray adopted by some cadets in 1931. The dog howled every time the bugler called reveille -- hence the name. Reveille became the school mascot until her death in 1944. Subsequent Reveilles filling the official post were ranked as Five-Star generals, and treated with great respect by A&M cadets. As each Reveille succumbed, she was interred with the others facing the scoreboard.
In 2002, the addition of the Bernhard C. Richardson Zone made it impossible for the dead dogs to read the score. So the graves of Reveilles I-V (mostly collies) were permanently relocated outside the north entrance, beneath a brick plaza. An electronic scoreboard on the outer stadium wall provides the latest Aggie tally to the assembled and honored dead mascots (VIII added in 2018).
The plaque reads, in part:
"Reveille I, and the Reveilles that follow her, will always have a special place in an Aggie's heart and symbolize the undying spirit of Texas A&M."