Texas A and M University - Aggieland Yearbook (College Station, TX)

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year Governor Campbell appointed him Commissioner of Agriculture, et cetera. Some time afterward the et cetera was cut off and dignified into a separate department of the State government. As Commissioner of Agriculture President Milner was ex-officio a member of the Board of Directors of the Agricultural and Mechanical College. In the midst of the darkest and most troublous days of the Coll ege he was selected by his asso¬ ciates, — not because of political prestige or pull, but because they believed in his wisdom and sanity, — to come to College Station and sit on the lid. If his seat has been uncom¬ fortable — and we think it hasn’t — the students have not made it so. On the contrary, his presence is breeding an era of good feeling. The wheels of the institution are driven by the impulse of a man who lets it be known that he has a kind heart. That perhaps is the secret in its entirety. One night just before Christmas a group of cadets were talking together when one of them asked, L Boys, what do you think of our President?” The replies came thick and fast: “He’s a good Methodist, all right,” said one; “He shakes hands with me every time he meets me;” “Always knows you,” said another; “A typical bughunter,” added a third. Then others put in, “The boys’ friend;” “Mighty good man;” “Common- sensed Dutch;” “Pretty decent;” “High-minded gentleman;” “All O. K.” “The very man for the job;” “There with the goods;” “Such a gentleman.” Finally one cadet, who had all along remained silent, remarked quietly, “He’s a d —— -d fine fellow; that’s what he is. He came down to the hospital today, found a boy trying to study for examinations with several degrees of fever, sat down on the side of the bed (he didn’t give a whoop if it was against the Doctor’s rules), talked to him like a father, and, finally, took his books away from him and told him he didn’t have to take his examinations until he got good and ready. He’s white clear through,” he added, and his companions cheered the sentiment as they separated for another set-to with Physics and Calculus. So this is about all the story we have to tell about our new President. We speak of what we know and of what we feel, and we ask his pardon if our plain speaking is embar¬ rassing. We have simply meant to commend him to succeeding generations of cadets. He may not be well posted on pedagogics, and we don’t care much if he isn’t; he doesn’t preach or talk long-windedly, and that makes us mighty glad; his administrative policies may be open to criticism,—we don’t know about that. What we do feel very sure of is that we like him for his unfailing courtesy, genuine kindness and tenderness of heart, the gracious smile that lights up his face wherever he meets a cadet; the wholesome words of advice and caution and admonition that he now and then speaks; and for being with¬ out fuss, without show, but with manly strength, a plain, everyday, good man. God bless him! ZfflCZD l Sal » l ETil ) II-

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1— CZSUZD OI cp- N -. c President R. T. Milner When, late along in the strenuous summer of 1908, the newspapers announced that Mr. R. T. Milner, Commissioner of Agriculture, had been elected to be President of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, the cadets of the College had little to say. They possessed but meager knowledge of the man. A few of them, perhaps, recalled a quiet, seemingly almost taciturn, member of the Board of Directors, who sat through its meetings making few remarks, though always attentive and interested and keenly alive to the welfare of the institution. He had spoken briefly to the students on one or two public occasions. These talks, following others of the same general tone, had been, for the most part, forgotten; except, in a few instances, some of the more observant students recalled that a distinct impression of earnestness, of rugged simplicity in phrasing his sentences, had given force to the appeals he had made. These recollections, however, were too vague and indistinct to serve as a safe basis for an opinion of the merits of our new Presi¬ dent. So, as a rule, the cadets suspended judgment and waited for a more intimate acquaintance. Only a few months have elapsed since six hundred eager, alert, open-minded young fellows again gathered in these halls, hallowed by a thousand precious memories, and put themselves under the leadership and guidance of a President who was practically a stranger to them. These months have been sufficiently long for the students to form their judgments of the man; and this Long Horn is dedicated to him in response to the spontaneous and universal wish of the entire student body. It is the highest expression of loyalty, esteem, and affection that the cadets of the College can give to a man. The tribute is paid President Milner because he has earned it. Before attempting to analyze the feeling of the students towards him, a few facts concerning his life may prove interesting. He was born in Alabama in 1851. During the same year his parents removed to Rusk County, where, until two years ago, he has since resided. His education4was received in Henderson College. After leaving college he taught school for five years; then in 1881 purchased the Henderson Times and adopted the profession of journalism. A year later he married Miss Mary L. Hawkins. From 1887 to 1893 he served as a member of the Texas Legislature, being speaker of the House of Representatives during his last term. His active interest in agriculture was fitly recognized in 1905, when he was made President of the Texas Division of the Southern Cotton Association. The following 5 E=D3 QfT D uC jg 1 | ) nr ■

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3l . .■Iisaaf ]n 1 IL JO x )r Oi 11 7 j™i If Jl fe-JL L. Jf -Jl j □ Oth Contents Frontispiece — Campus View ............. 3 Dedicat ion—To our President .......... 3 President R. T. Milner ................. o College Calendar ...................... 9 Greeting ............................. 11 A. M. College of Texas ............... 13 A. £ M. Publications .................. 17 Long Horn Staff ..................... 19 Battalion Staff ........................ 21 Publication Society ................... 22 Agriculture .......................... 25 Mechanical Engineering ................ 32 Civil Engineering ..................... 34 Department of Publicity ................ 51 Military Department ................... 53 Regimental Organizations 1908-1909.. . . 55 Regimental Staff ...................... 60 Regimental Band ..................... 66 Company “A” ........................ 63 Company “B” ........................ 70 Company “C”........................ 72 Company “D” ....... 74 Company “E”........................ 76 Company “F” ......................... 78 Company “G” ............. ........... 80 Company “H” ....................... 82 Ross Volunteers ...................... 84 Trumpet Corps ....................... 86 Regimental Colors .................... 87 Big Sixteen .......................... 88 Drill Days at Old A. M ............... 89 Ven Dose Taps is Took Up .............. 92 Board of Directors .................... 96 Post Graduates and Fifth Year Men ...... 98 Senior Class. ......................... 99 Class Officers. ........................ 101 Members of Class ’09 who 1 Iropped out.. 150 Senior Class History ................... 151 A Senior’s Parting.................... 153 Junior Class Junior Class Officers................... 155 Junior Banquet........................157 Junior Days.......................... 158 Junior History....................... 159 Junior Class.......................... 161 Sophomore Class Officers............... 163 Sophomore Class History............... 165 Sophomore Class...................... 168 Freshman Class. Freshman Class Officers ................ 173 F reshman Agricult ure Class............ 175 Freshmen ............................ 177 Junior Spirit of Nought-Nine........... 181 Two Year Course in Agriculture ......... 182 Electives ............................ 183 Post-Graduates ....................... 183 Summary of Students ................. 183 Summary of Graduates by Courses ....... 184 Statistics ............................ 185 Mister Milner .......................... 189 Alumni Association ................... 191 Athletic Council ...................... 192 Athletics at the College ................ 193 Coaches, Captains and Managers 195 Review of the 1908 Football Season 196 Wearers of the “ T” ................... 198 Baseball Season of 1908 ................ 205 Baseball Team ....................... 208 Track Team of 1908 ................... 210 Football—Captains and Managers ....... 213 “A” Company Football ................ 215 “B” Company Football ................ 216 “C” Company Football ................ 217 “ D” Company Football ................ 218 “ E” Company Football ................ 219 “ F” Company Football ................ 220 EP= ) li k il j