Fellowship of the Ring – an Aggie Tale

Texas A&M Aggies tend to stick together, and that set of values has helped some local graduates bear the all important emblem of a Texas A&M degree - the Aggie ring.

Texas A&M is an institution that has many university traditions that are embraced by all their graduates, whether a member of the corps or not. Outsiders just tilt their heads in bewilderment at their war cheers, woops and standing the ENTIRE GAME at Kyle field among other traditions. Oh, and don’t walk on the grass.

But let’s face it; there is a brotherhood among Aggies unlike nearly any other school in the entire U.S.

It is likely that if you ask an Aggie about their class ring, they’ll get all dreamy eyed. Surely there is a story to tell leading up to the very minute when they received it. It may be more, a whole lot more, than what you really want to know, but as a fellow Texan, you listen to be polite and to show respect.

The bearer of an Aggie ring is never alone in a crowd. One Aggie meets a fellow ring bearer and many hours and drinks can be killed to pass the time at airports and other large social gatherings. It is a symbol that binds the crew together.

Being one of many also takes on a responsibility that is larger than the individual, the sort of responsibility one feels for other Aggies. One local Aggie, who wishes to remain anonymous, and several others were responsible for helping a sister and a younger brother, both students at Texas A&M get their rings, even though it looked like that wasn’t going to be an option due to finances.

“The mother lost her husband when her son was in the fifth grade. She was working three jobs. The older daughter was graduating in August from A&M and a younger brother was still attending. She said her daughter didn’t want a ring.”

But this local elderly statesman knew better and had an idea. That is when the old Aggie responsibility kicked in. He thought that all Aggies should have a ring and if other fellow Aggies were told, surely they would help remedy the situation. Then it took on a life of its own. It was like the cavalry (aka the Aggie Corps) arrived just in time for the rescue. Another Aggie put it on the Wimberley Aggie Facebook page and the donations started rolling in.

A teacher whose father attended A&M donated $500, classmates and older brother Aggies also donated. Then phone calls to others across the country were made. A local waitress from an Aggie family insisted on donating, “the kids have to have their rings.”

Of course the touching story reached out and both Aggie students received their rings taken care of by the Fellowship of the Rings. Another chapter added to the Aggie traditions.

“The fellowship and tradition of wearing rings, it’s sacred. (It’s said) You are a two per center if you don’t care about the ring or tradition… All the other Aggies said was ‘how much you need?’ Both of them now have rings, both good kids,” the anonymous Aggie said.