Date: Thursday, November 10, 2005 9:45 AM

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Aggie Athletes Involved Participate in Big Event

For Immediate Release

Saturday, April 16, 2005

      COLLEGE STATION, Texas- Aggie Athletes Involved (AAI) joined with a large group of Texas A&M students in participating in the Big Event on Saturday. The Big Event is the largest single day student-run service project in the country.

"This is another example of our student-athletes joining with other students at Texas A&M to help give something back to this community that supports us so well," Dr. John Thornton, Sr. Associate Athletic Director for Student Services, said.

"This is another area of education, exposing our student-athletes to community service," Thornton added. "It is very encouraging to see these young people help in the community and the joy and enthusiasm they have in service. Hopefully, this is something that will continue as they leave this area and become valuable members in other communities."

A group of 35 student-athletes from teams not involved in athletic competitions this weekend gathered in front of the Bright Football and Academic Complex to receive instructions regarding three main projects from Dr. Thornton and Senior Women's Administrator Mona Osborne. One group took care of painting the interior of one home while another painted the exterior of another home.

The other project was a continuation from the previous year, the beautification and restoration of a historic Texas A&M cemetery.

"Last year we cleaned and cleared brush, trimmed trees and tore down an old fence surrounding a cemetery," Thornton said. "Through the help of Texas A&M administration and the physical plant, the markers were realigned and a new fence was installed. We worked along with former faculty and staff members as well as current administrators in putting the finishing touches on a new sitting area and building steps to the new entrance."

Some of the participants in the project were: Vice Provost Dr. William L. Perry, Vice President Charles Sippial, Sr., Executive Associate Vice President Dr. Rick Floyd, Ken Livingston, Dr. Charles McCandless, Tom Dew, Mike Faust, Nancy Sawtelle, David Chapman, Ryan Carlton, Kevin Scroggins and staff and student-athletes from the athletic department.

As there was no public cemetery convenient to the school in 1900, the Board of Directors of the A&M College appointed President Lafayette Lumpkin Foster and Professors Henry Hill Harrington, James C. Nagle, and Frederick Ernst Giesecke "to locate a cemetery on the college grounds." Before a site could be determined, President Foster died and workers hurried to locate and prepare a site for his burial. The Bryan Eagle reported that is was "indeed fitting that his remains should repose in the soil he so loved."

By the 1930's, the A&M campus was expanding and construction of a new dormitory complex necessitated the removal of the cemetery to another location. In 1939, the graves of Foster and six other persons were disinterred from their former site of present day Duncan Dining Hall and buried in a new plot on the southwest side of the Missouri Pacific railroad tracks across from the "Hrdlicka place".

The last known burial at the current site was the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. C.G. White in 1942. The following individuals are known to be buried in the cemetery.

Lafayette Lumpkin Foster (born Nov. 17, 1851-died Dec. 2, 1901) -- Agricultural & Mechanical College of Texas President, July 1, 1898-Dec. 2, 1901

"He was an incorruptible politician, whose management, coupled with a large popularity registered his name in every office he sought and made him a valuable ally and leader in every campaign."̅biography of L.L. Foster, Unidentified; Dec. 3, 1901

Member of the Texas State Legislature

Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives

Member of the Texas Railroad Commission

Commissioner of Agriculture, Insurance, Statistics and History

Joseph A. Riggs & Wife Sarah -- Janitor for the Agricultural Experiment Station building.

Infant child of Charles and Lottie Alvord (died 1908) -- Mr. Alvord was a professor of agriculture from 1899-1911.

Mr. Allison Smoot (died 1909) -- Head milkman at the college dairy barn during the Harrington administration.

Rainey E. Benson (died 1909) -- Employee of the A&M College of Texas

David Benson -- Employee of the A&M College of Texas

"Captain" C.O. Watkins and Daughter Ruth (died 1940) -- Captain C.O. Watkins headed the College's Janitorial staff for over 30 years. Daughter Ruth passed only 24 hours before her father.

Infant son of Mr. & Mrs. C.G. White (died 1942) -- Mr. White worked in the student activities department at the college.