Reveille "Tails"

In a cadet’s first year in Company E-2, freshmen grasp the significance of self-discipline, the rhythms of life on the Quad and, most crucially, the importance of never making eye contact with or approaching the highest-ranking member of the Corps of Cadets: Reveille. A few short months later at Family Weekend in April, one of these freshmen is selected as mascot corporal. As Reveille’s handler, they spend their sophomore year traveling thousands of miles across Texas to Aggie Moms’ Club meetings, Coach’s nights, football games and more.  

Last year, Sue ’94 ’02 and Patrick Mahoney ’71 saw the hard work and dedication of handlers and made a gift to establish the Mascot Corporal Scholarship Fund for the mascot corporal and the two assistant corporals, a much-needed financial relief for the cadets who spend all day, every day caring for Reveille. Thanks to their generosity, more cadets will have the opportunity to serve as mascot corporals without worrying about financial stress. “We saw a need and filled it,” Patrick said. “The tradition of Reveille is important to everyone. We wanted to ensure the cadets caring for such an important part of this university are also cared for.”  

The tradition of Reveille traces back to 1931, when a group of cadets accidentally hit a small black-and-white dog with their vehicle near Navasota, Texas. The Aggies snuck her into their dorm to care for her despite a strict no-pet policy on campus. When a bugler blew the morning “Reveille” to wake cadets, the dog began barking, earning her name and exposing the cadets who brought her back to Aggieland. The following fall, Reveille led the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band onto Kyle Field, and she became the official mascot of Texas A&M University. 

Since Reveille I barked her way into the hearts of Aggies, nine other queens of Aggieland have ruled. Today, nine mascot corporals, or Reveille handlers, share their favorite memories with their Reveille. 
 

Reveille II: Alfred “Al” Moffitt III ’64 

1961-62 Handler

During the time that Al Moffitt ’64 was Reveille II’s handler, mascot theft was rampant. To protect the Queen of Aggieland, Moffitt elevated his role from mascot corporal to mascot security guard by keeping a pistol filled with blanks under his belt. “I wasn’t going to shoot anybody,” he explained. “But it certainly deterred anybody from trying to steal Reveille.”  

When Moffitt caught wind of rumors that Rice University students were plotting to steal Reveille, he devised a defense. “We left the doors to our dorm hall open. We would let them enter, and then the entire company was prepared to jump out of hiding places to scare the thieves,” he said. Moffitt’s scare tactics never came to fruition, however, because no mascot muggers came.  

Beyond the stealing scare, Moffitt remembers Reveille II as a well-mannered dog that loved to meet others and go for runs. Particularly, the pair would run a quarter of a mile around the track surrounding the field during football games. Moffitt recalls Reveille leaving a pungent present behind the opposing team’s benches on more than one occasion.  

Reveille II in two words or less: Lotta fun.  

After graduating with a marketing degree from Texas A&M, Moffitt landed a key marketing position at Sears. He went on to work for a furniture company in the Rio Grande Valley, Lack’s Furniture, for 38 years where he was the vice president, chief marketing officer and general manager. By the time he retired, he had grown the company into one of the top 50 furniture companies in the country with more than $100 million in sales a year. He now lives in College Station with his wife, Jacqueline.  
 

Reveille III: Maj. Gen. Gerald “Jake” Betty ’73 ’95 

1970-71 Handler

When Jake Betty ’73 ’95 left Aggieland for the summer after his freshman year, he was not the E-2 cadet selected to care for Reveille III. The selected mascot corporal for his class took Reveille home for the summer, as was tradition, and when fall classes began, returned her to campus. However, the cadet did not return to classes himself, and Betty stepped into the role. 

During his unexpected time as handler that fall, Betty and Reveille experienced an incredible win together at Louisiana State University after a 65-yard pass with 30 seconds left in the game. “The LSU fans went crazy,” he recalled. “This guy came up to me and grabbed me. He started shaking me aggressively, and I thought I was about to have to defend myself.” As luck would have it, the crazed fan was actually an Aggie who had gained $10,000 for betting on the team’s win.  

But even if it had been a bitter LSU fan, Betty and Reveille had protectors watching over them. “The head drum major watched the whole interaction,” Betty explained. “He walked up to me and asked, ‘Where is your car parked?’” After Betty explained that the getaway car to escape the post-game madness was three blocks away, the drum major instructed the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band to surround him and Reveille. The band then marched down the middle of the road to ensure the queen’s safety. 
 

Reveille IV: Capt. Jeffrey Gruetzmacher ’80 

1977-78 Handler

At the end of his freshman year, Jeffrey Gruetzmacher ’80 got to ask, “Hey Mom and Dad, can I bring home a collie?” Living in rural Liverpool, Texas, Gruetzmacher’s parents thought Reveille IV would fit right in. “She was part of the family,” he shared. “I let her run out in the woods and live as a normal dog, which wasn’t a common thing in the life of a mascot.” Reveille also met her match in the Gruetzmacher’s 16-year-old family dachshund. “The dachshund didn’t give up any ground to Reveille,” he said. “Reveille was the mascot of a university, but that dachshund called the shots in our house.”  

That summer, Reveille often relaxed with Gruetzmacher’s parents while he was working at the local grocery store. As he was driving home one evening, he saw a familiar-looking fur coat running alongside the road. “I panicked,” he said. “Luckily, it wasn’t her. She was safe at home just being a good dog.”  

While Reveille would always remember her handler, she also never forgot those who welcomed her into their home during the summer to “just be a dog.” When Gruetzmacher’s parents visited campus in the years after his time as handler, Reveille was always quick to run up to them. “She always remembered the mascot corporal’s parents,” he shared. “They were the people who provided her a chance to just be herself.” 

Reveille IV in four words or less: Always remembered handler’s parents. 

Gruetzmacher dedicated 30 years to the U.S. Navy after graduating with a degree in geology. He now works as a safety, performance and leadership coach for CAVU International, a private consulting firm specializing in providing mentoring and training in team resource management, process improvement and leadership principles to the oil and gas, energy and manufacturing industries across in the U.S. and internationally.   
 

Reveille V: Dan Debenport ’91 

1988-89 Handler

In fall 1988, the Aggies were set to play in the Kickoff Classic against Nebraska in New York City. At the time, it wasn’t a given that Reveille and her handler would attend every away football game, but just three weeks before kickoff, Dan Debenport ’91 received a call that Reveille V, her handler and two additional E-2 cadets would take Aggieland’s queen to the Big Apple.  

When Reveille and her entourage landed in New York City two days before the game, they wanted to see the sights. There was a small catch, however. “We bought bus tickets, but we knew pets weren’t allowed on public transportation,” Debenport explained. “But she wasn’t just a pet... she’s Reveille.” The group decided to tie Reveille’s long, leather leash around her to create a harness. Debenport then donned a pair of dark glasses to give the illusion that Reveille was a guide dog (pictured above). “Everyone was telling me to keep my cool,” Debenport said. “I was so nervous, but we saw Manhattan with Reveille by our sides.” 

Another favorite quality of Reveille V was her love for chasing squirrels. On many occasions, Debenport let her off the leash to chase the furry creatures in Academic Plaza. “She never caught one, but she sure loved chasing them,” Debenport said. If she ever got too carried away, all Debenport had to say was, “Go home,” for the queen to return to her castle (dorm) on the Quad.  

Reveille V in five words or less: Perfect princess prancing and performing. 

Debenport was involved as a Fish Aide and Fish Camp counselor and played three football games as the 12th Man Kickoff Team while he was a student. Upon earning a degree in political science, he commissioned into the U.S. Marine Corps. After his service, he taught and coached sports for two years. On Valentine’s Day in 1998, he met his wife, Brandy ’99, at a dance hall. Today, the couple has four children and lives in Texarkana, Texas, where they run the Dixie Diner.  
 

Reveille VI: Craig Serold ’01 

1998-99 Handler

During the summer he was handler, Craig Serold ’01 spent more than 10,000 miles in his truck with Reveille VI. At the time, the Commandant’s office gave Serold’s number to anyone who called requesting Reveille’s attendance at an event. “We took a lot of pride in making sure Rev was accessible, so we rarely said ‘no’ to appearance requests,” Serold said. All summer long, he traveled the Texas A&M Mothers’ Club circuit and attended weddings and countless other events. With just a paper calendar to keep track, Serold remembers having to grow up quickly to manage his time. “I think it was harder than raising three kids,” Serold joked. 

Despite his ability to keep track of dozens of events with pen and paper, Serold underestimated time on one occasion. That fall, while driving to the Baylor game in Waco, he and three E-2 cadets hit stand-still traffic on the highway. When he realized they would not make kickoff if they stayed in the car, he took matters into his own hands. “Two outfit buddies and I got out of the truck in uniform and started walking on the side of I-35,” Serold recalled. “As we walked, we got equal amounts of whoops from Aggies as we did insults from Baylor fans.” After walking a quarter of a mile, traffic started clearing up. With the help of a fellow Aggie letting them hitch a ride in the back of his truck, they raced to the stadium to make kickoff in the nick of time.  

But Reveille and Serold did have to miss out on an Aggie football game on one occasion. Unfortunately, Reveille VI suffered from epilepsy, and while in St. Louis, Missouri, before the Big 12 Championship Game, she went into a seizure. Serold rushed her to a veterinary clinic. “It was really scary,” he said. “As soon as we knew she was going to be all right, though, we pleaded for a way to watch the game.” On a 6-inch black-and-white television, Reveille and Serold watched Sirr Parker ’98 take a 37-yard pass to the endzone for the win. Even from a veterinary clinic, Reveille still managed to watch the scoreboard for her Aggies. 

Reveille VI in six words or less: Elegantly feisty.  

Serold grew up in Victoria, Texas, with a long line of Aggie relatives. As a student, he was a Fish Aide, a member of the Ross Volunteer Company and in the Corps of Cadets leadership. Since earning his computer engineering and computer science degree, Serold started Data Rooms, a software company trusted by leading corporations and professional firms worldwide for secure information exchange needs. Serold and his wife, Emily ’01, now have three children and live in Dallas.  
 

Reveille VII: Andrew Davis ’09 

2006-07 Handler

Similar to her predecessor, Reveille VII also took an unexpected trip to the veterinarian with her handler Andrew Davis ’09. During a big outdoor festival, Davis was chatting with Aggies when Reveille took advantage of his divided attention. “She grabbed a whole sausage and ate it, stick and all. We took her to the vet to get that out, but I couldn’t believe she could snatch it despite three of us cadets watching her,” he said. “I’d been handler for a week. I told my dad that we might’ve had to move to another state if things had gone south!” 

At an Aggie Moms’ club dinner, Reveille risked it for the brisket instead of a sausage. “She was sound asleep at my feet, but when I stood up to wave as they announced us as guests, she sprang up onto the table to eat a plate of food,” he said. Even though these two stories came to mind the quickest for Davis, he emphasized that she was a very fit, well-mannered and beautiful dog. Perhaps she chased squirrels like Reveille V to stay in shape.  

Reveille VII in seven words or less: Loyal, regal, spirited, energetic, risk-taker (and brisket-taker). 

Outside of being Reveille’s handler, Davis was an international studies major and was involved in MSC Fish as well as the Ross Volunteer Company. After six years in the U.S. Army, he started a career in the aerospace manufacturing industry. 
 

Reveille VIII: Daylon Koster ’15 

2012-13 Handler

While Daylon Koster ’15 was getting a haircut before football season started, he received a call from a Florida number. Not recognizing it, he let it go to voicemail. After the haircut, he listened to the message and realized he had missed a call from Lee Corso, a lead football analyst for ESPN. Immediately calling back, Koster learned that Corso was coming to Aggieland for College Game Day and wanted Reveille VIII to be with him when he announced that he favored Texas A&M over Florida.  

On Friday before the game, ESPN also shadowed Reveille and Koster as he attended classes, explained traditions and toured their dorm room. As it was the first year the Aggies were in the SEC, Koster and Reveille met analyst Kirk Herbstreit, appeared on live television and witnessed Texas A&M winning the ESPN commercial of the year.  

ESPN appearances were not the only television attention Reveille got while Koster was handler, however. “I got a call that summer asking me to come speak at an FFA leadership camp,” he shared. “I asked them if they minded that I bring Reveille with me, and they burst out laughing.” Turns out, the camp coordinators were also the caretakers of Bevo, The University of Texas mascot. Thanks to Koster’s FFA connections, the two rivals met for the first, and most likely last, time at a non-athletic event.  

As if the year hadn’t been action packed enough for Reveille and Koster, it also happened to be the same year that Johnny Manziel ’15 enrolled in his freshman year at Texas A&M. “We traveled in style to the Alabama game that year,” Koster recalled. "We flew on a private plane and rode a limo to the football stadium.” As all good Aggies know, the outcome of that game launched Texas A&M and Manziel into national news. “That year put Texas A&M on the map in a lot of ways,” Koster said. “It was a big showing for a first year in the SEC. Our traditions, including Reveille, became known nationwide outside of the Big 12.” 

Reveille VIII in eight words or less: Stoic royalty with beautiful, commanding presence. 

Hailing from Cedar, Park, Texas, Koster was involved in FFA in high school and was a state FFA officer his freshman year at Texas A&M. He studied agricultural economics while also serving as freshman class president and participating in Fish Aides, the Ross Volunteer Company and the Texas A&M Foundation Maroon Coats. Since graduation, Koster has worked at Joeris General Contractors, where he is a project manager for elementary and high school renovations as well as grocery stores. He and his wife, Lindsay ’17, live in Round Rock, Texas. 
 

Reveille IX: Mia Miller ’21 

2018-19 Handler

When Reveille IX put on her blanket, she knew she was the Queen of Aggieland. “She had a different demeanor about her,” Mia Miller ’21 explained. "She knew she was important.” On a rainy game day, however, Reveille had no desire to put on her rain blanket, specifically made to keep her clean and dry. When Miller stepped onto Simpson Drill Field to begin march-in, she knew it was too muddy for royalty to be walking on the ground. “There was a huge mud pit ahead of us, and cadets were sliding all around,” she shared. “I had to keep her clean and stay in formation, so I picked her up and carried her for the march-in.”  

As the first female to serve as Reveille’s handler, Miller’s goal was to represent women well. “I always made sure she was portrayed in the best way possible,” Miller said. Even on a muddy march-in, Miller managed to keep Reveille spotless. 

Reveille IX in nine words or less: The Queen of Aggieland loves Taylor Swift and squirrels. 

A Waco, Texas, native, Miller year served as the 2nd Regiment Sergeant Major as well as the 2nd Regiment Major Unit Commander during her time in the Corps. Since graduating with a nursing degree, she has moved to Camp Pendleton in California to pursue a career in the United States Marine Corps. She is a logistics officer, which requires her to oversee motor transport operations and the transportation of tactical equipment for her battalion.  
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Reveille X: Samuel “Lucas” Scroggins ’24 

2021-22 Handler

When Lucas Scroggins ’24 brought Reveille X home to Little Elm, Texas, he knew she was smart, but he had no idea how smart. “I’ve seen dogs learn how to sit fast,” he shared. “But Reveille learned how to twirl for two shreds of cheese in no time.” As her first handler, Scroggins got to witness many firsts with Reveille X, including her first time seeing a body of water. Without hesitation, she launched into the Scroggins’ family backyard pool upon arriving at her summer home. “As a new handler, I panicked,” Scroggins said. “I jumped in fully clothed, but she loved swimming and didn’t want to come out.”  

Despite experiencing many of her firsts, Scroggins was not the first to run onto Kyle Field with Reveille X. Instead, she made her Kyle Field debut with Batie Bishop ’23, the previous and final handler for Reveille IX. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, Bishop never got to run onto the field when he was mascot corporal. Rather, he ran alongside Reveille X for the 9/11 20th anniversary Red, White and Blue game. “It was a beautiful moment,” Scroggins explained. “I teared up a bit watching him have that special moment with her.”  

Reveille X in ten words or less: Sweet, funny, gorgeous, smart, fast, unique.  

Scroggins is a sociology major.  Passionate about health care integration, he wants to increase the outreach of health and well-being with his career after graduation.  He is passionate about health care integration and serving the entire population with much-needed access to care.  
 

Interested in supporting cadets as they care for the Queen of Aggieland? Support the Reveille Fund today by using the link at the bottom of this page.