Ross Volunteers

The Ross Volunteer Company, commonly known as the Ross Volunteers, is the military escort of the governor of Texas and a unit of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets.

Establishment and early history
The Ross Volunteers were established as a military drill team at Texas A&M University in 1887 under the name Scott Volunteers, honoring Col. T.M. Scott, the university's business manager. In 1891 the name of the unit was changed to the Ross Volunteers in honor of university president Lawrence Sullivan Ross, and later changed to the Foster Guards, and then the Houston Rifles, reflecting the names of Ross' successors. In 1905 the name was permanently set as the Ross Volunteers.

Later history
The unit was dormant during World War II but was reactivated in 1948. Among its first public engagements following its reconstitution was to escort Governor of Texas Beauford Jester and General Jonathan Wainwright to that year's Texas A&M vs University of Texas football game; the bearing and discipline of the unit was remarked upon by Wainwright. In 1950 the unit was named military escort to the governor of Texas, a role it continues to perform.

During the state funeral of George H. W. Bush, the Ross Volunteers formed the guard of honor during the removal of the casket from Bush's funeral train upon its arrival in College Station, Texas. The Ross Volunteers are the oldest cadet organization in existence at Texas A&M University, though the now defunct Stephen F. Austin Literary Society and the Calliopean Literary Society were founded earlier.

Uniforms
Since inception, the uniform of the Ross Volunteers has consisted of white trousers and blouses with gold trim, worn with peaked hats. Officers wear a distinctive, crimson waist sash.

Notable personnel

 * Andrew Davis Bruce
 * Pat Olsen