In 1975, I was serving as assistant dean of Engineering at Texas Tech when Col. Tom Parsons, then commandant, called one night and asked if Joanne and I would put Rev up for the weekend of the A&M-Tech game. Rev IV had just come "on duty" and it was to be her first "away" game. That began the odyssey involving Rev IV and the Phillips.

I came back to A&M in 1976. It was the fall semester, 1984 when Hans Meinardus, the mascot corporal at that time, came to my office with Rev IV and said, "The outfit (E2) has decided to retire Rev and I have been authorized to ask if you would care for her in her retirement." Rev was 10 years old, had problems with her hips and her hearing, and was just tired. Her last home football game was against TCU and her last away game was against T U. It was December 4, 1984 when the sophomores brought IV to the house and it was pretty emotional. Finally, we drank a toast to her, left her with Hans a few minutes, and then they were gone. Of course Joanne and I were honored to have her in our home, but the thing that was most humbling was the fact that A&M in general and the Corps and E2 in particular trusted us with a living part of A&M's traditions. Rev IV died March 29,1989.

There are two things we would want people to know about our relationship with Rev IV and Company E2. First, Rev IV was never given to us. She retired to our home. It is impossible to give away a part of our traditions. Second, we agreed to do three things as set out by E2: we would provide her a good home and take care of her; we would let her be a dog and enjoy her retirement, and finally, we would return her to E2 upon her death so that she might be buried at the north end of Kyle Field with the other Revs. Joanne and I fulfilled those commitments and will be eternally grateful for the honor of having her with us in her last years.

Lee Phillips '53

April 2, 2008

Reveille IV (died March 29, 1989). Reveille IV served as Texas A&M mascot from 1975–1984.[4] Over 10,000 mourners attended her funeral on April 9, 1989.[5]

                                                      Reveille IV