Class of '63 Introduction to the Sul Ross Group by Edis Oliver '63

The following is the Class of '63 Introduction to the Sul Ross Group by Edis Oliver, presented at the 2018 Sul Ross Group Reunion:

CLASS OF ’63 INTRODUCTION TO THE SUL ROSS CLASS
By Edis Oliver ’63

Howdy! Fish Oliver is my name sir. I am from Waco, and I am majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

That was my introduction to many of you in 1959. While I was getting dressed this morning and talking to my wife of 54 years, Liz, I said “I am going to give the introductory remarks this morning at the 55th reunion of the Class of ’63. When we were getting married in 1964, could you ever believe in your wildest dreams that we would be back here doing this 55 years from now. In your wildest dreams could you have believed that I would have the honor of making this short address? Liz was quiet for a few moments and then she said, “I don’t want to hurt your feelings, because I love you, but to be honest, for about the past fifteen years, you have not been in my wildest dreams”.

When I was asked to introduce the Class of ’63 to the Sul Ross Group, I started thinking about the accomplishments of our class members and the ways in which we have contributed to Texas A&M. I started thinking about the ways in which we are different from previous classes. I thought how much money we have contributed, how many scholarships we have contributed, how many high ranking military officers, and how many of our class have become CEO’s of corporations, and how many have achieved high distinction in government and business. I thought about how many unsuccessful football seasons we had under Jim Myers and Hank Foldberg, and I thought about the fact that women were first admitted during our senior year. And I thought that every graduating class at Texas A&M is taught class cohesion, unity, and that we are the best class to ever graduate from this institution. And I thought, but these things do not make us different from every other class that has graduated from Texas A&M.

And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that every class in the history of A&M is different from its predecessor and successor class. But only incrementally different. Each class has a slightly different experience. Certainly those wartime classes were greatly different, but mostly over the 142 year history of our university, the year to year changes have been incremental. The Corps became voluntary, women were introduced, class schedules, and meal schedules have changed, but at its heart, we are only incrementally different from the classes of ’60, ’61, and ’62. And the classes of ’64, ’65, and ’66 that we trained and mentored are only incrementally different from us.

And that brings me to the great strength of Texas A&M, which is the way each class in its own unique way teaches, educates, and mentors its successors in the Aggie spirit and the Aggie way of leadership. I remember distinctly being in the room of two sophomores toward the end of my fish year while they explained the true principals of leadership to me to help me understand the role I would be taking on during the following years.
- Lead by example
- Be fair, but firm
- Never lie to a subordinate
- Never show favoritism
- Never give a person responsibility for an assignment, without first giving them the authority and resources to succeed in the assignment
- Always support and back your people

So, unique in our own way as we may be, the Class of ’63 is another in the long Khaki line of Aggies, trained and mentored by those who went before us and who paved the way for our experience. Whoever we are, whatever we have had the good fortune to become, and whatever we have been able to contribute to our country, Texas and Texas A&M, we owe to those of you in this room. No matter how much we may have disliked or even hated some of you at the time, our experience at Texas A&M would not have been the same without your discipline, coaching, teaching, and mentoring.

So, from the Class of ’63, the Best Damn Class on the Campus, we are honored to join the Sul Ross Group, and pledge to do our part to uphold its long traditions.

Gig ‘Em!