Sul Ross State University - Brand Yearbook (Alpine, TX)

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26 Student Life

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In the spirit of good sportsmanship and good natured rivalry the Rodeo Team challenged the combined TKE and AKL fraternities to a football match, the Greeks rose to the challenge in this same spirit and the first Cowboy-Greek game was born. There may have been a touch of avarice mixed in with the sportsmanship somewhere, as the game was intended as a money raising event for the three organizations. The game was played in four fifteen minute quarters by the intercolligiate rules, with high school referees officiating. The players wore full pads. The cowboys dominated the first half with a score of 21-6. The Greeks came back in the second half scoring an additional twenty points. It was a case of too little, too late, however, for the opposition matched the twenty points to end the game with a 41- 26 victory for the Rodeo team. Student Life 25

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“I talk for a living,” is Ronnie Merrill’s reply when asked what he does to support himself through college. Actually, Ronnie is a Cooperative Education Student at Fort Davis National Historic Site, Fort Davis, Tx, where during the fall and spring he works part time while attending school. During the summer he plays the role of an 1880 soldier by wearing the full gear and telling people what it was like almost a hundred years ago. Merrill started working at Ft. Davis in Oct. 1974. Because the amount of visitors is low from Oct. to April, he stayed in the office learning to catalog 1860-1890 artifacts. His favorites objects were bottles. “Especially beer bottles, he said. “I know how that bottle got on military grounds. The soldier snuck the beer in from town and hid it by the privy (out-house). After the final roll call, he left the barracks, found his beer and sat in the privy to drink it. I’ve done that very thing.” Well, it may seem strange that Ronnie has drunk beer in a privy, but part of his training entails attending camps at Ft. Davis and Ft. Larime, Wyoming, living the life of a soldier. Everything at the camp is authentic- from recreation to discipline. Merrill put this training to use mainly in the summer as part of a Living History program in which all employees dress in authentic costumes. Ronnie wears a full wool uniform. Some days he rides a horse or fires artillery and others he poses as the post commissary clerk. Whatever the case he is always talking to people. He usually does his talk in first person as if he is really living in the 1800s. He tells of the hard life he has to live and complains of the $13 a month salary he receives. However, Ronnie was not always as sure of himself as he is now. The first time his supervisor told him to talk to a visitor Ronnie said, “I was scared to death. I didn’t know what to talk about. The only thing I could remember was the buttons I had cataloged in the winter. Well, I cornered that visitor and I talked about buttons! I can imagine what that man was thinking!!” Now, Ronnie is the Park Demonstration Supervisor and Black Powder Magazine Officer. He instructs employees on how to use the 1885 rifles and artillery pieces and 1841 cannon which is presently on the parade ground. This enables them to demonstrate these weapons properly. Even with all this experience Ronnie is not guaranteed a permanent position in the National Park Service. If he is not accepted he said, “I would really like to be a priest. My No. 1 priority in life is to help people. I enjoy life more when I do this.” When asked how the park service helps people, Ronnie thought awhile and replied, “It’s like putting on a professional show. If I can make someone smile, laugh, or give them a break, I’ve accomplished my goal in life.” On his views of Sul Ross, Ronnie said, “I enjoyed the individual attention teachers show. Some of the teachers are excellent. I would like to see Sul Ross become more involved with current events. Also, I think better communication is needed between departments. I love the area. To me, this is what the west should look like. I was raised in Sinton, Tx., where there are mainly farmers and ranchers and a few city folk, but not many. I’m a true cowboy at heart.” As a closing comment, Ronnie said, “I love life no matter what I do now or in the future. Everything is a challenge to me. If I’m going to do something I want to do it right. Of course, I’m human,” he laughed, “and need someone to guide and push me along the way.” Profile Ronnie Merrill 1 talked about buttons.” by Allison Ryan Student Life 27 • •