Company A-1 History



History A Brief History of Company A-1 The thirty-fourth president of the United States, Dwight David Eisenhower, once said, "The world moves, and ideas that were once good are not always good". The world is indeed always moving and changing. And with the world, Texas A & M changed. When the college opened in 1876, there were twenty men enrolled in the one and only mandatory Corps of Cadets Company A. Today, there are 44,000 students currently enrolled, of which half are girls, and the Corps of Cadets is optional. Despite these changes, Company A still offers adept discipline, proficient leadership, virtuous skills and knowledge, omniscient and everlasting effect that it did in 1876. It is only in Company A that a person who was “once an Animal, [will] always be an Animal”. The powerful nature of this statement can be comprehended through Company A’s history in which a person’s very core is influenced wholeheartedly as they are changed from an oblivious freshman into the epitome of a true and influential leader. The history of A Infantry is not that of ease, but rather adversity and difficulty; but it was the original “Animal” spirit that kept A Infantry alive. It is commonly known that A-1 is the oldest company in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University. It can be assumed that because A-1 is the oldest outfit it has traditions that pre-date almost any tradition on campus. As the outfit is known today, the “Animals” have always been able to adapt to the changing times of the Corps and still be the Best DAMN Outfit Anywhere! Company A has lived for over a 100 years sustaining excellence along with Texas A & M’s traditions and values. Of course, changes occurred throughout time, but Company A has always been able to surpass the challenges of the changing world and maintain high standards and virtues. When Texas A & M opened in the fall of 1876, only six students were enrolled. Major Page Morris trained these individuals with competence and aptitude. The six individuals were made drill masters for students who arrived later. When about fifty to sixty students had enrolled, the first company was formed in an organized manner and called Company A. the first commanding officer of Company A was Alva P. Smyth of Mexia, Texas. As Texas A&M University grew, and consequently Company A, it was later divided into two companies A & B. A Company had trouble from the start. It seems that the downfall of Thomas Gathwright’s presidency was because of a cadet in Company A. This cadet, Cadet John C. Crisp, was to be the next captain of Company A with the full support of Gathwright and faculty. Except he did not have the faculty’s support, but he still had the president’s. The faculty at this time started to badmouth Cadet Crisp, and Gathwright. So doing what any good southerner would do in that time, he attacked their personal character. It was decided that Crisp would not become the next Company A captain, and Gathwright was not fit to be president of the university any longer. Throughout time, as the world continued to move, companies (and presidents) came and went, but Company A remained. In the year 1959, Company A was engraved with a small change. Lieutenant Colonel Taylor Watkins marked the beginning of a revolutionary change of company names. The Corps changed company classifications to a “letter/number” format in order to concur to the unit classification system of other academic institutions. This event was followed by the dissolving of all outfits in the First Battalion, leaving Company A-1 as the sole survivor and thus the sole of the eventful history of Texas A & M. Aside from many challenges and turbulent times, A-1 has proven time-and-time again that spirit, pride, determination, and tradition can pull though anything. For example, A-1 has always been labeled as “poor” marchers; in December 1907 A-1 came in last place, but with the pride that all members of A-1 get over time they progressed from “poor” to “marching zoo”. This shows that spirit, pride, and maybe even a little laid-back humor is healthy to keep an outfit around forever. The determination that has been shown countless times though the ages of A-1. The most notable determination in modern times is that of the “old animals,” they are just as proud of the company they where when they were second semester fish. The traditions of the outfit are endless; though, unfortunately some of them went with Bonfire. The traditions that are out there as being part of A-1 but are not practiced as much are so unique that they could only belong to a group as unique as A-1. The tradition of eating a grass hopper after First Cut, to prove you were an Animal; or throwing the Commander and First Sergeant into Bee Creek after the annual Christmas dinner at Dos Hermanos (A local restaurant that was owned by an old animal). Or earning the outfit t-shirt at the end of fish Orientation Week, having the sophomores smoke the fish with their eyes closed and laying the shirt in front of them. These are the traditions, the true history of the outfit that has kept it alive for so long. A lot of the traditions that Company A-1’s history claimed that day still exist today. fish are surprised as well as intrigued when they are faced with the enduring traditions of A-1. One of the first traditions that the fish confront is the before and after picture with Lawrence Sullivan Ross. The before picture is taken as the fish stand in front of the statue with their buddies and hair. The after picture is taken as the fish stand with their buddies in front of the statue with unified fish haircuts. Another tradition that the fish encounter is when they receive their company shirts. This is probably the first tradition that emotionally builds a common bond within the fish buddies and is the first step to earning something. This happens at the end of Freshman Orientation Week, during which the fish get in lean and rest position and close their eyes until the shirts are placed in front of them with the logo side up. When they open their eyes, the fish are mesmerized by the feeling of belonging and wildcat to show their motivation. Another tradition that has survived is the fish and sophomore wrestling. Moreover, other traditions include the Halloween party, in which the sophomores trick-or-treat while the fish serve them in their unified costumes. It is also during Halloween and Christmas that the fish decorate the hallways. Other traditions include fish doing skits about upperclassmen, the Texas University march in pullout nametags, Christmas list in which the fish post a list of all the upperclassmen names in A-1 and what they would get them for Christmas, March to the Brazos in the Spring semester in positions are passed down and etc. Along with the Company A-1 traditions, the Company A-1 logo unites and gives personality to the outfit. The adoption of the “letter/number” format gave way to nicknames. For example, in 1942, A-1 evolved as “Fightin’ A” or “A Infantry”. In 1961, the A-1 symbol was a man holding a gun and a machine gun. In 1966, an extraordinary change took place when the logo changed to a cavalry officer pointing to an enemy. In 1969, the logo evolved into a grizzly man holding a pistol and machine gun with the words “Finest of First” inscribed above the logo. These words play a significant part in A-1 today. In 1977, a blue field background was incorporated along with the words “Follow Me”. In 1980, the logo reverted back to the old cavalry man sitting behind “A-1” letters. In 1982, the inception of the grizzly man holding a gun and machine gun was seen. The man was changed to a black man and his shoulder size was dramatically large. These three signs were kept in the Company since then, either on the wall or in an Animal’s room. Of course, Company A-1 is not exactly as it was in 1876. Nevertheless, it still provides the same adept discipline, proficient leadership, virtuous skills and knowledge, omniscient and everlasting effect that it did in 1876. There is a hanging in the hallway that states that “things change over time, but the traditions still live on”. Well, Company A-1 did just that and much more. Company A-1 took those changes and made the best out of them surpassing all difficulties and making an Animal that once existed to always exist. With over 130 years of history to stand on, it is no wonder that A-1 is such a strong outfit, and a model for the Corps and the university. President Eisenhower seems to be correct in saying that things should change as time changes, but in Company A-1 these changes never have, nor will affect how an Animal’s very core is influenced wholeheartedly as they are changed from an oblivious freshman into the epitome of a true and influential leader.

History

A Brief History of Company A-1

The thirty-fourth president of the United States, Dwight David Eisenhower, once said, "The world moves, and ideas that were once good are not always good". The world is indeed always moving and changing. And with the world, Texas A & M changed. When the college opened in 1876, there were twenty men enrolled in the one and only mandatory Corps of Cadets Company A. Today, there are 44,000 students currently enrolled, of which half are girls, and the Corps of Cadets is optional. Despite these changes, Company A still offers adept discipline, proficient leadership, virtuous skills and knowledge, omniscient and everlasting effect that it did in 1876. It is only in Company A that a person who was “once an Animal, [will] always be an Animal”. The powerful nature of this statement can be comprehended through Company A’s history in which a person’s very core is influenced wholeheartedly as they are changed from an oblivious freshman into the epitome of a true and influential leader.

The history of A Infantry is not that of ease, but rather adversity and difficulty; but it was the original “Animal” spirit that kept A Infantry alive. It is commonly known that A-1 is the oldest company in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University. It can be assumed that because A-1 is the oldest outfit it has traditions that pre-date almost any tradition on campus. As the outfit is known today, the “Animals” have always been able to adapt to the changing times of the Corps and still be the Best DAMN Outfit Anywhere!

Company A has lived for over a 100 years sustaining excellence along with Texas A & M’s traditions and values. Of course, changes occurred throughout time, but Company A has always been able to surpass the challenges of the changing world and maintain high standards and virtues. When Texas A & M opened in the fall of 1876, only six students were enrolled. Major Page Morris trained these individuals with competence and aptitude. The six individuals were made drill masters for students who arrived later. When about fifty to sixty students had enrolled, the first company was formed in an organized manner and called Company A. the first commanding officer of Company A was Alva P. Smyth of Mexia, Texas. As Texas A&M University grew, and consequently Company A, it was later divided into two companies A & B.

A Company had trouble from the start. It seems that the downfall of Thomas Gathwright’s presidency was because of a cadet in Company A. This cadet, Cadet John C. Crisp, was to be the next captain of Company A with the full support of Gathwright and faculty. Except he did not have the faculty’s support, but he still had the president’s. The faculty at this time started to badmouth Cadet Crisp, and Gathwright. So doing what any good southerner would do in that time, he attacked their personal character. It was decided that Crisp would not become the next Company A captain, and Gathwright was not fit to be president of the university any longer.

Throughout time, as the world continued to move, companies (and presidents) came and went, but Company A remained. In the year 1959, Company A was engraved with a small change. Lieutenant Colonel Taylor Watkins marked the beginning of a revolutionary change of company names. The Corps changed company classifications to a “letter/number” format in order to concur to the unit classification system of other academic institutions. This event was followed by the dissolving of all outfits in the First Battalion, leaving Company A-1 as the sole survivor and thus the sole of the eventful history of Texas A & M.

Aside from many challenges and turbulent times, A-1 has proven time-and-time again that spirit, pride, determination, and tradition can pull though anything. For example, A-1 has always been labeled as “poor” marchers; in December 1907 A-1 came in last place, but with the pride that all members of A-1 get over time they progressed from “poor” to “marching zoo”. This shows that spirit, pride, and maybe even a little laid-back humor is healthy to keep an outfit around forever. The determination that has been shown countless times though the ages of A-1. The most notable determination in modern times is that of the “old animals,” they are just as proud of the company they where when they were second semester fish. The traditions of the outfit are endless; though, unfortunately some of them went with Bonfire. The traditions that are out there as being part of A-1 but are not practiced as much are so unique that they could only belong to a group as unique as A-1. The tradition of eating a grass hopper after First Cut, to prove you were an Animal; or throwing the Commander and First Sergeant into Bee Creek after the annual Christmas dinner at Dos Hermanos (A local restaurant that was owned by an old animal). Or earning the outfit t-shirt at the end of fish Orientation Week, having the sophomores smoke the fish with their eyes closed and laying the shirt in front of them. These are the traditions, the true history of the outfit that has kept it alive for so long.

A lot of the traditions that Company A-1’s history claimed that day still exist today. fish are surprised as well as intrigued when they are faced with the enduring traditions of A-1. One of the first traditions that the fish confront is the before and after picture with Lawrence Sullivan Ross. The before picture is taken as the fish stand in front of the statue with their buddies and hair. The after picture is taken as the fish stand with their buddies in front of the statue with unified fish haircuts. Another tradition that the fish encounter is when they receive their company shirts. This is probably the first tradition that emotionally builds a common bond within the fish buddies and is the first step to earning something. This happens at the end of Freshman Orientation Week, during which the fish get in lean and rest position and close their eyes until the shirts are placed in front of them with the logo side up. When they open their eyes, the fish are mesmerized by the feeling of belonging and wildcat to show their motivation. Another tradition that has survived is the fish and sophomore wrestling. Moreover, other traditions include the Halloween party, in which the sophomores trick-or-treat while the fish serve them in their unified costumes. It is also during Halloween and Christmas that the fish decorate the hallways. Other traditions include fish doing skits about upperclassmen, the Texas University march in pullout nametags, Christmas list in which the fish post a list of all the upperclassmen names in A-1 and what they would get them for Christmas, March to the Brazos in the Spring semester in positions are passed down and etc.

Along with the Company A-1 traditions, the Company A-1 logo unites and gives personality to the outfit. The adoption of the “letter/number” format gave way to nicknames. For example, in 1942, A-1 evolved as “Fightin’ A” or “A Infantry”. In 1961, the A-1 symbol was a man holding a gun and a machine gun. In 1966, an extraordinary change took place when the logo changed to a cavalry officer pointing to an enemy. In 1969, the logo evolved into a grizzly man holding a pistol and machine gun with the words “Finest of First” inscribed above the logo. These words play a significant part in A-1 today. In 1977, a blue field background was incorporated along with the words “Follow Me”. In 1980, the logo reverted back to the old cavalry man sitting behind “A-1” letters. In 1982, the inception of the grizzly man holding a gun and machine gun was seen. The man was changed to a black man and his shoulder size was dramatically large. These three signs were kept in the Company since then, either on the wall or in an Animal’s room.

Of course, Company A-1 is not exactly as it was in 1876. Nevertheless, it still provides the same adept discipline, proficient leadership, virtuous skills and knowledge, omniscient and everlasting effect that it did in 1876. There is a hanging in the hallway that states that “things change over time, but the traditions still live on”. Well, Company A-1 did just that and much more. Company A-1 took those changes and made the best out of them surpassing all difficulties and making an Animal that once existed to always exist. With over 130 years of history to stand on, it is no wonder that A-1 is such a strong outfit, and a model for the Corps and the university. President Eisenhower seems to be correct in saying that things should change as time changes, but in Company A-1 these changes never have, nor will affect how an Animal’s very core is influenced wholeheartedly as they are changed from an oblivious freshman into the epitome of a true and influential leader.