Reveille Is Missing

UPDATE: The painting has been recovered. See this story for details: https://www.aggienetwork.com/news/138449/portrait-of-reveille-i-found/ 

By David L. Chapman ‘67

Retired Texas A&M University Archivist

In 1999, Texas Aggie featured an article titled “Reveille is Missing.” Not our mascot but a historically valuable portrait of Reveille I. It had been missing for a number of years when the Aggie published the article requesting information on or the return of the painting. Unfortunately, no one has stepped forward. Even after a decade and a half since the article, a reprise of the story may yet bring about Rev’s return.

The historic painting from years gone by appears to have disappeared after being put in storage during a renovation of the Military Science Building (Trigon) during the 1990’s. 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 exists in the Cushing Library’s University Archives and is included here. It is, however, the story behind the painting and traditions of Texas A&M that make an attempt to locate the portrait a very worthwhile project.

To understand the history of the painting, one has to go back to the late fall of 1943 in wartime Aggieland. It was obvious that A&M’s much beloved mascot, Reveille, was in failing health. As a part of a wartime fundraising drive to have Reveille commissioned a general in the K-9 Division of the WAGS, members of the General Reveille Fund Committee decided to raise additional funds to have a portrait made of the aging 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 even a small 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.

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.

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 or can assist in it’s return, they can contact Lisa Kalmus at the Corps of Cadets Center 979-862-2862 or email her at lkalmus@corps.tamu.edu

No questions will be asked. Let’s bring Reveille back to campus.