The Sul Ross Group is made up of all Aggies who have attended A&M from the Classes that have celebrated 55 years or more since graduation. They reunite annually each year in College Station. The Reunions are planned and executed by The Association’s Class Programs and Events teams in conjunction with the Sul Ross Group President and the Board of Directors.
A common misconception is that the group is comprised of former Ross Volunteers, but that is not the case nor a prerequisite of being a member of the group. Simply stated, it is all members of the Classes from the Class of ’67 (55 years ago) and back who have been added into the group. All are welcome at the Reunion, even if an individual missed his or her induction Reunion.
The Sul Ross Group informally formed in 1900 when several Classes, who were students in the 1890’s during the presidency of Lawrence Sullivan Ross, came together to enjoy one Reunion rather than organizing multiple Class Reunions. So Travis L. Smith, Jr., Class of 1898, and a few others are credited with its formation. While Smith served as general chairman for the Reunions, he also funded them! The Group was later formalized in 1947 to include all Classes over 50 years since graduation (later changed as it is now to 55 years from graduation).
Although the Sul Ross Group has evolved over more than 70 years, the general purposes remain the same. One can read these purposes in the Constitution and Bylaws.
Past Sul Ross Group President Lester Potter ’28 was very instrumental in the growth and early development of the Sul Ross Group. He wrote a book on the group’s namesake, Lawrence Sullivan Ross, copyright 1993, owned by The Association. In it, besides conveying the Ross story of leadership, he expresses incredible wisdom about the future to all of us living it now. Specifically, he describes the challenges of the transit from A&M’s past (the “traditional”) to the future (“modernity”) and the “friction points” that we must deal with.
Message from the President
As we can know and understand, our beloved university is much larger (the largest student body in the United States), immensely more diverse, and way more advanced in breadth and depth than 70 years ago. Mr. Potter charged us as SRG members to pay close attention to this challenge of change — understanding that change is inevitable, and thus we must adapt and be flexible to successfully deal with it. Some change is good and principled, some not. We, the Sul Ross Group are dedicated to preserving the traditional, “transcendent” part which Sul Ross started for us (and other great leaders have enhanced) and sets apart as special, while leveraging the development and growth of our Institution! We highly recommend that all of you turn to page 97 of Lester Potter’s book and read what he told us!
Again, we believe that we have the experience, wisdom and historical context to contribute in a constructive way as “elder statesmen and stateswomen,” and strive to comport ourselves in that manner — dealing in truth and facts — and offering attendant suggested solutions. The history of AMC/TAMU is rich in service-before-self and the call to duty by former students. That was born out of our traditions, core values, and culture. The nation and state need for us “We are the Aggies, the Aggies are we” to stay that course!
Past Presidents
