Softly Call the Muster: The Evolution of a Texas Aggie Tradition (Volume 52)

by John A. Adams Jr., Richard "Buck" Weirus (Foreword)

Texas A&M University has many unique traditions, but the annual muster ceremony held on April 21 is among the most hallowed. No other gathering brings more former students together for a single event, marked by Aggies in more than four hundred locations worldwide. Aggies originally observed San Jacinto Day--the victory on April 21, 1836, by the Texans over Santa Anna--with club activities. During the WWII defense of Corregidor in Manila Bay the muster tradition gained broader significance. Surrounded, pounded by several quarter-ton shells a minute, and with little hope of relief that April of 1942, Gen. George F. Moore '08 thought of his alma mater and sought out a roster of all Aggies on Corregidor. News of the Aggie spirit in that dark hour electrified the nation.

This book traces the evolution of Aggie Muster from its early roots to the modern-day observance. Through research and hundreds of interviews, John A. Adams, Jr. '73 has captured the essence and spirit of this honored Texas Aggie tradition.

116 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

John A. Adams, Jr. received a Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in History from Texas A&M. He also completed the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking at Southern Methodist University and holds Certified Economic Developer (CED) credentials. Adams was a Captain in the United States Air Force and served as President and CEO of Enterprise Florida Inc., which is the only public-private statewide economic development organization in the nation.

Adams served as a delegate to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade negotiations in Geneva, an advisor to the World Trade Organization, Chairman of the Industry Sector Advisory council for trade policy review at the U.S. Department of Commerce and has provided Congressional testimony on U.S.-Mexico border infrastructure issues.

He was an Adjunct Professor of International Banking and Finance at Texas A& M International University in Laredo, Texas. Adams is the author of several books on Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets, We Are the Aggies, Softly Call the Muster, Keepers of the Spirit and co-author of Texas Aggies Go To War as well as many other books on international trade, economic development and history.