“A” TC holds mini-reunion on Nov. 5, 2011 at College Station

“A” TC holds mini-reunion on Nov. 5, 2011 at College Station

On November 5, 2011, ‘A’ TC (Transportation Corps) Seniors
’57 had their fourth mini-reunion since our Class of ‘57 50th. There were 10 of
us attending accompanied by eight wives.

We had decided at the Class of ‘57 50th to try to meet at the campus each year
for a mini-reunion.  We usually do it on a football weekend but lately logistics of the gathering have limited our personal time to visit, given the time required to go to Kyle, pre-game activities, March-in, game and post-game activities. This time we went on an away game weekend, watched the Oklahoma game on a big screen TV, and had a lot of time for personal visits.

Many of us arrived right after noon on Friday, Nov 4, 2005, at the Choice Suites on University (economics are better than Hilton and accommodations are excellent).

To start out the weekend on that Friday, one of our own, Jim Byrd ’57 and his wife, Valerie, were being honored by the Parsons Mounted Cavalry for a very generous contribution to
their group.  Parsons was dedicating an iron gate, emblazoned with the names of Jim and
Valerie Byrd on it and fired the Cannon in their honor (The Cavalry are the
keepers of the Cannon that is fired at Kyle after touchdowns).
Photos are included and others are available!.

Four '57 classmates present with two spouses for the early Friday afternoon event were given a grand tour of the facilities by Cadets and by Bob Byrns, the Cavalry Site Manager/Advisor of the Cavalry.  The Cadets showed us through the barns, answered our questions, fired the Cannon and were most gracious hosts that afternoon.  It was a very fitting beginning of a memorable weekend.

There are some 40 Cadets (all volunteers) in theCavalry.  They are authorized 42 horses and Cadets but budget cuts have limited their number.  Jim Byrd says:  “My old (and unreliable) memory is that recent budget cuts reduced the number of horses from 40 to 28. When the new Commandant learned this from Bob he told him he would find funds to bring the number back to 40.”  

Jim and Valerie’s contribution reduced PMC's 2011 operating budget  shortfall by almost 60% and increases the number of horses they can accommodate.  There were two additional horses present that day given by Lyle Lovette.   Bob Byrns says they have to work with these horses to
blend them into the Cavalry.  Bob Byrns is a very knowledgeable horseman.  I think Jim Byrd said that he was a saddle-maker.  He establishes the standards and procedures for care of the horses and teaches new Cadets (2nd semester sophomores, who usually have no experience with horses)
all of whom are Cadets from different units of the Corps, about the care and
handling of horses.

If I remember correctly, some 90% of the Cadets had no prior experience with horses and, indeed, were city slickers like most of us.  It is only during their junior year that they are allowed to ride the horses and they do it Bob’s way.   Interesting note:  they use a McClellan saddle, not a standard Western saddle.  Strange looking but standard in the military.  Designed by a General McClellan during the early 20th century.  (so sez Bob), 

Anyway it was a great beginning of a fun weekend. 

Later we ate out at "Rudy's BBQ" where Jim and Myrna Hendrick bought our meals.  We returned to the hotel, visited and exchanged stories of yesteryear and retired well after midnight.

The next day we went to the campus and shopped at The MSC Store (temporarily relocated to G. Rolly White due to MSC renovation).  We visited the Quad, saw where we had lived (Dorm 7). We saw the renovation of some dorms (all will be remodeled), visited Military Walk, Sully and  all points in between, had a generally great time and returned to the hotel for the game.

The game was a disaster but we reconvened after a while, had pizza and salads
and other good food and then we told more stories and lie about our experiences
and lives after College.

The next morning, Sunday Nov 6, 2011, we gathered for breakfast, some of us
said our goodbyes and headed home and some later went to the Bonfire Memorial.

I could go on and on but I will yield to my classmates to add or subtract from
this diatribe.

It was a generally great mini-reunion.  We will do it again in conjunction
with the Sul Ross Reunion.

Ya never know when it will be your Last Corps Trip.

Gig ‘em, Jerry Hayes