Letters

The events of the weekend were captured by LIFE photographer Frank Scherschel, while a story on the military ball and Murphy’s visit ran in LIFE’s March 14, 1949, issue. About four years ago, I found photos from the weekend on LIFE’s online archives and shared them at that time with Cushing Memorial Library and Archives, the Sanders Corps Center and class agents from the classes of 1949 through 1953.

Photos show guests arriving at the College Station train station (dates to the military ball were mostly from the Texas State College for Women, otherwise known as Tessies); Audie Murphy’s hero welcome; scenes from the ball, for which the Vaughn Monroe Band and Vocals provided entertainment; a full assembly of the Corps of Cadets, comprising of five regiments and two military bands; and a Corps review.

Photography is a hobby for me, so I really appreciated the photos from a photojournalism perspective. They provide an in-depth glimpse into a very remarkable Texas A&M moment.

Blazing New Texas Trails

I was thrilled to read the historical note on the back cover of the spring 2016 issue of Spirit magazine regarding our namesake, the original Texas Central Railway, and the role it played in the founding of Texas A&M University.

As a member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of ’91 and the managing director of external affairs for today’s iteration of Texas Central Railway, now known simply as Texas Central, I’m humbled to learn that we are but the latest link in a chain that leads all the way back to the birth of our alma mater.

If you’re not aware, Texas Central is developing America’s first high-speed passenger rail system, which will soon connect North Texas and Houston with a stop in the Brazos Valley. It’s exciting to know that, like Texas Central Railway in the late 19th century, our company is blazing a new trail through the Lone Star State—only this time, it’ll be on electrified tracks and running at about 200 miles per hour.

As we press on with this landmark, legacy project, I will continue to draw upon the lessons learned from the pioneers of the original Texas Central Railway and from my time spent as a student at Texas A&M. I feel incredibly blessed to work on a project that will connect the past with the present not only in name, but in function. The opportunity to bring former, current and future students together—safer and faster than ever before—will be a catalyst for ideas that will lead Texas into the future.

Again, thank you so much for sharing this bit of Texas history and the original Spirit of Aggieland with your readers.