Spring 2025 Issue

RVA to Host Austin Social in August

SAVE the DATE! If you live in or around the Austin area, make plans to join the RVA for a social event on Thursday, August 7 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at Mandola's Italian Kitchen - Arbor Trails (4301 W. William Cannon Drive E-1, Austin, TX). Come spend an evening with both former and current RVs and enjoy a delicious Italian dinner. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. An email invitation will go out in mid May to all RVs in our database with an Austin area mailing address on record. If you don't live in the Austin area but want to join us, you are welcome to visit the Austin Social event page on the website to sign up in mid May when registration opens. Click on the image above to check out all the details!

RVA Celebrates 15 Year Anniversary

This year marks the 15th Anniversary of the Ross Volunteer Association! As was previously reported in a March email message from RVA President Jake Betty '73, we kicked off the year with a 15th Anniversary Celebration Event on February 8 at the Hilton College Station. A group of 160 current and former RVs and guests attended this milestone event to celebrate the notable accomplishments of our organization. During the program, Ron Lueck '64 and George Stokes '63 were inducted into the RVA Platoon of Honor to recognize their significant impact on the success of the organization. In addition, special recognition was given to our RVA Saber & Sash Society donors, and plaques and lapel pins were presented to our newest Life Members pictured below.

The RVA salutes the following RVs who, in the spirit of selfless service, volunteered to work the registration table at this event: Colton Eads '26, William Jachimiak '26, Jackson Norris '26, and Helmut Ulrich '26. Special thanks is also given to the RVs who provided the ceremonial saber arch to welcome and honor our Saber & Sash Society members in attendance.

If you have not yet had a chance to view the complete photo gallery from this event, you can do so HERE. (After clicking the link, click the 'View Gallery' button, enter the password 'RVA' and select the '2025 RVA Banquet' album.) Enjoy!

A Way to Honor & Remember RV Buddies

Memorial gifts are a special way to memorialize an RV or anyone special to you who has passed away.  Honor gifts are a special way to recognize, acknowledge, or show appreciation to an RV or other important person in your life on a special occasion such as an anniversary, birthday, graduation, or other appropriate event. 

RVA Saber & Sash Society member Ron Lueck '64 recently recognized  his Squadron 1 fish buddies, who were selected as Class of '64 RVs, through an impactful and meaningful gift to the Ross Volunteer Association. The RVA thanks Ron for his thoughtful generosity, and we are pleased to share the names of those he has honored and memorialized below:

Is Your RVA Membership Current for 2025?

"Thanks & Gig 'em" to those of you who have already joined or renewed your RVA membership this year! If you are not sure of your membership status, you can check it by logging in to your account at www.rvassociation.org. For inquiries regarding your membership status, please send an email to RVA Membership Chair Noel Bradford '89 at rva@corpsofcadets.org. Reminder post cards will be mailed out over the summer to former RVs who have not yet renewed membership for 2025.

The RVA publishes an annual donor list on our website. The list of donors who made a 2024 membership contribution can be viewed HERE. We had a record 612 contributing members in 2024, and we are extremely grateful to each and every one of you for supporting the RVA mission! 

RVA membership is based on a calendar year and starts at just $50, with several membership levels to choose from. Life Membership is the highest level and can be attained with a donation of $5,000 made over a 5 year period. Our Saber & Sash Society offers an option for those wishing to make a contribution of $25,000 or more over 5 years. Saber & Sash donors receive an RV bronze statue and they are automatically granted Life Membership in the RVA, receiving all associated benefits.

The RVA currently has 7 Saber & Sash donors, 171 Life Members, and 27 Pending Life Members. As of this publication, we have a total of 536 contributing members for 2025, and with your support, we will be well on our way to having another record breaking membership year! Your yearly membership donation supports the RVA's annual $20,000 funding commitment to the RV Company and helps grow our endowment. RVA membership donations are tax deductible and eligible for matching gifts.

Join or Renew for 2025

Download PDF Membership Form

The Financial Impact of Your Membership

The following financial data was shared during the 2025 RVA 15th Anniversary Celebration Event on February 8. This data shows how your membership contributions are directed and allocated in support of the RV Company and the Ross Volunteer Association. The numbers represent the cumulative percentages and dollar amounts allocated by category for all contributions made to the RVA since its inception in October 2010. Your donations are extremely impactful and your loyal support is greatly appreciated. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

RV Company Change of Command

The RVA salutes outgoing RV Commander Bryce Kelley '25, his leadership team, and the entire Class of '25 RVs for a job well done! Congratulations to newly selected RV Commander Craig Petrin '26 and the leadership team listed below who will lead the RV Company for the 2025-2026 school year.  (Click on the image below to enlarge.) 

Fiesta San Antonio a "No Go" for RVs

Sadly, Fiesta will be missing the Aggie Spirit in 2025. San Antonio's annual "Party with a Purpose" fell later on the calendar this year with the Battle of Flowers Parade scheduled for Friday, May 2. As this date was one week after Final Review and during final exams, it was not feasible for the Ross Volunteer Company, Aggie Band, Parsons Mounted Cavalry, and Fish Drill Team to participate. Hopefully, our Aggie Corps contingent will be able take to the streets of downtown San Antonio for the Battle of Flowers Parade next year! VIVA FIESTA 2026!

A Moving & Meaningful Campus Muster

Upholding the RV legacy of duty and honor, the Ross Volunteer Company provided humble service to Texas A&M University at Campus Muster on Monday, April 21 in Reed Arena. The Campus Muster keynote speaker was Lt. Gen. Michael L. Downs ’92, a former Ross Volunteer. Lt. Gen. Downs' son, Zach Downs '26, is a member of the RV Company. 

Precision Performance for Family Weekend 

On Saturday, April 5, the Ross Volunteer Company carried on the Family Weekend performance tradition! Forming up on the Quad, each platoon demonstrated unique drill manuals before coming together as a Company to execute the highly anticipated Ripple Line. The performance wrapped up with a ceremonial Change of Command during which the Class of 2025 passed down leadership of the Company to the Class of 2026. To view more Family Weekend photos, courtesy of former cadet Meredith Seaver '17 of The Bryan-College Station Eagle, click HERE.

BTHO Parade Day Inclement Weather!

A contingent of Ross Volunteers was ready to head out for Washington DC to participate in the presidential inaugural parade on January 20, but extraordinarily cold weather forecast for inauguration day—the coldest since President Ronald Reagan’s 1985 inauguration—resulted in all events being moved indoors. This change precluded the RVs and other large groups from participating.

Then in March, the Ross Volunteer Company traveled to New Orleans, as they have since 1947, to serve as the Honor Guard for Rex, King of Mardi Gras. By the way, bus transportation for this trip is funded by your RVA membership donations. The RVs were all set to represent Texas A&M in the Rex Parade held on Fat Tuesday which fell on March 4 this year. Unfortunately, powerful incoming afternoon winds and the potential of rain caused both the Zulu and Rex parades to get an earlier than normal start for Mardi Gras 2025. Rex rolled without bands and other large groups, including the RV Company, and made a much amended route because of the weather issue. Although disappointing, the RVs made the best of their time on this trip sharing in camaraderie with local Aggies from the New Orleans A&M Club. A long standing tradition, the New Orleans A&M Club once again welcomed the RVs to "The Crescent City" and hosted a complimentary lunch for the entire Company at the Hard Rock Café in the French Quarter. This highly anticipated gathering between the two groups always wraps up with a little Yell Practice, of course! The RVA salutes and thanks the New Orleans A&M Club for investing their time and resources in support of the RV Company!

Conroe Go Texan Parade was a "GO"

The Ross Volunteer Company traveled to Conroe on February 22 to participate in the 60th Go Texan Parade. This parade which celebrates the start of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo has become an annual tradition for the RV Company. Your RVA membership donations provide funding for bus transportation to this parade. Thanks to the Montgomery County A&M Club for graciously hosting the RVs and feeding them a delicious meal after they marched in the parade. Salute! Click HERE to view more photos from the parade.

Is Your RVA Profile Information Up to Date?

Please help us improve our communication efforts by logging in to your RVA profile and ensuring your mailing address, phone number, and email address are up to date in our records. Your username is the same email address this newsletter was sent to. If you can't remember your password, please utilize the 'Forgot Password' option from the login screen. The graphic below provides easy to follow instructions on how to update your profile and contact information online.  (Click on image to enlarge.)

Going Fishing? We've Got the Shirt for You!

The RVA offers a variety of logo apparel (to include the popular fishing-style shirts) through Core Image Group which is a third party vendor located in College Station. Merchandise orders can be shipped directly to you for a fee, or Texas-based residents can opt to pick up their orders in Aggieland at the Core Image Group office for free! Click on the image below to start fishing for some RVA gear!