Reveille VI

(September 3, 1993 – October 18, 2003)

Reveille VI was a registered collie born in Woodward, Oklahoma and took over as Texas A&M's mascot from Reveille V during halftime of the football game against the University of Louisville on November 13, 1993. Upon induction into the Aggie family, she quickly assumed the roles and duties of her predecessor and began attending university functions including football games.

Shortly after beginning her duties, Reveille was stolen by a University of Texas at Austin student, Neil Andrew Sheffield. Prior to this time, Texas A&M was the only school in the Southwest Conference whose mascot had never been stolen. Reveille was taken over winter break. Because the school was closed for the vacation, Reveille was staying at the Dallas home of her handler, Jim Lively. Sheffield found Reveille alone in the back yard and lured her through the gate. For almost a week, Texas A&M denied that the mascot had been stolen. After the school finally acknowledged her disappearance, Sheffield tied her leash to a sign post near Lake Travis and called the police to report her location. She was returned unharmed to Texas A&M and resumed her duties.^[10]

Reveille VI became a movie star in the 1996 film "Reveille, My Life as the Aggie Mascot." She was in attendance with the Aggie football team during their first Big 12 Championship in 1998, and celebrated alongside President George W. Bush at the inaugural ball in Washington, D.C. in 2000.^[9]

In 1996, she was diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy and later arthritis. Although for the next four years she was able to resist her ailments and continue with her duties as mascot, these health problems would eventually lead to her early retirement in May 2001.^[9]

She was retired on May 12, 2001 into the care of Dr. Charlie Hall, who served as the veterinarian for Reveilles IV, V and VI.^[11] She celebrated her 10th birthday on September 3, 2003, at a party hosted by Hall and his wife, Diana. Reveille VI was in declining health and was said to be taking nine different pills and two forms of liquid medications each day to help combat seizures and other problems.^[9]

Six weeks later, on October 18, 2003, Reveille VI was euthanized. The decision was made by Hall and other Texas A&M veterinarians because of her deteriorating health. Funeral services were held Sunday, November 2, 2003, at Kyle Field. Speakers at her funeral were former mascot czars Mark Boynton, Class of 1997, and Jeff Bailey, Class of 2000. Following the funeral service, Reveille VI was buried among earlier Reveilles at the north entrance to Kyle Field.^[12]