Alamo Aggie | September/October 2022

YOUNG

HOWDY

FROM OUR PRESIDENT

Howdy Ags,

Since our last newsletter, great things have been happening around Aggie Park, the Original Aggie Park. Volunteers are what make the San Antonio A&M Club the best alumni club in America. Every event we sponsor, for as long as I have been on the Board of Directors, has had an abundance of volunteers step up to assist wherever needed. This show of support has continued this year and it was exemplified at our 1st Game Watch party of the 2022 football season. I want to extend a huge thank you to Las Palapas and Tracey Green for donating breakfast tacos for the 11:00 am kickoff. We had close to 150 people attend the watch party and participate in the festivities. After half-time, several of our volunteers relocated to the grill behind the Park to cook hot dogs and serve those in attendance. Unfortunately, a 3-hour rain delay dampened opening game spirits, but what a great way to kick off the 2022 football season!

On Saturday, August 20 we hosted the tenth annual SEC Tailgate Party at Aggie Park which originated in 2012 when Texas A&M joined the SEC. Other SEC alumni clubs in the San Antonio area descended upon Aggie Park to celebrate the beginning of another football season and participate in a little school

to school rivalry. This year we challenged local alumni club members to a blood donation competition and invited the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center to collect much needed donations from party participants. Every donor received an “I Bleed Maroon” shirt and six pack of adult beverages to be consumed after the recommended time threshold from the Blood Bank staff. A great time was had by all. Especially, when you came inside the Park to enjoy watching the replay of Texas A&M defeating Alabama (41-38) appearing on all the screens.

In August, we launched the new Aggie Park Events Center website; check it out at aggieparkevents. com. Brooke Byrum ‘17 and our website team of Whitney Schrader ‘08, Paul Schuder ’18, Paige Peterson ’18, and Ashley Skidmore ’24 did an outstanding job creating a welcoming and informative site. Be sure to direct your friends, family and business associates to the new events center website and let them know Aggie Park is open for business and ready to host their next event.

Lastly, I would like to thank Mark Osborn for his 8 years of service to the San Antonio A&M Club. Mark is moving on, but his organization and leadership skills have meant a great deal to the San Antonio A&M Club. With his support and the guidance of the

STAY IN THE KNOW

Follow The San Antonio A&M Club on Social Media

Board of Directors, an amazing renovation of our beloved Aggie Park has been completed on time and within budget. Our club is positioned for bright future. Thank you Mark for your dedication and devotion to the San Antonio A&M community over these past 8 years.

Gig ‘Em Reagan Freiling ‘93 President

2022

Board of Directors

PRESIDENT Reagan Freiling ‘93 president@aggiepark.com

VICE PRESIDENT

Becki Holmes ‘82 vicepresident@aggiepark.com

TREASURER

Don Preecs ‘83 treasurer@aggiepark.com

SECRETARY

Lane Mitchell ‘79 secretary@aggiepark.com

DIRECTORS

Whitney Schrader ‘08

Sloane Wendell ‘98

Vincent Woo ‘80

Steve Peterson ‘80

Dean Williams ‘77

Chris Clements ‘79

Sandra Hoggard ‘87

David Gay ‘86

Paige Petersen ‘15

YOUNG AGGIE COORDINATOR

Paul Schuder ‘18 youngaggies@aggiepark.com

ROSS BJORK

On August 8, Texas A&M Director of Athletics, Ross Bjork, spoke to a packed Aggie Park as our featured speaker for our Monday Lunch meeting. Ross gave us an update on what to expect from Aggie Athletics in the upcoming year both on the field and in the classroom. He shared his vision to make the Home of the 12th Man the pinnacle of opportunities realized through college sports. He explained his approach to achieving this vision was through championships won, diplomas earned, and leaders equipped to impact the world. Members and guests were impressed by the record-setting academic success student athletes have achieved since his arrival in Aggieland. It was exciting to hear about the upcoming season of Texas A&M Athletics and where the various

student athletic programs are headed in 2023 and beyond. Ross Bjork was one of our many interesting speakers featured at the San Antonio A&M Club Monday Lunch meetings. For a complete listing of upcoming speakers, including the incoming Commandant of the Corps of Cadets, General Patrick Michaelis, check out the “Events” tab at aggiepark.com.

Gig’em Aggies!

IN SAN ANTONIO

Becki Holmes ‘82 Vice President

The SEC Tailgate at Aggie Park was held on August 20. Aggies and other SEC school supporters arrived to the smell of BBQ cooked by Joe Rodriguez. Aggies shared the park with attendees supporting Tennessee, Alabama, Ole Miss, LSU, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi State, and Auburn. The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center sent their donation bus for the event. The 19 donors were rewarded with “I bleed Maroon” t-shirts and a 6 pack of warm beer for consumption 24 hours after giving blood. They also went home with a box of Girl Scout Cookies to pump them up after giving blood.

Tailgate tents were erected on the grounds while the building was opened to take advantage of the rest room facilities. The Video screens were down inside and showing the previous year’s Alabama game. A brief shower cooled things down but did little to interrupt the lawn games and fellowship that took place.

Gig ‘Em Lane Mitchell ‘79 Secretary

SEC TAILGATE

AT AGGIE PARK

AGGIE MOM’S CLUB

Howdy, Aggies!

The 2022-2023 school year is in full swing, which means the San Antonio Aggie Moms’ Club is as well. We’ve already held our first two general meetings of the school year, which were very well attended with many new Aggie moms. Our August meeting is always a “who we are” meeting where we introduce all of our board members and committee chairs. We present the new Aggie moms with information about our club and the many ways to be connected and involved.

We hosted the talented Aggie artist and Aggie mom, Jane Metz, at our September meeting. She told her inspiring story and shared a few special life

experiences as well, including those that relate to her love of Texas A&M. She brought some of her beautiful artwork for purchase and donated a gorgeous piece for our spring auction. Painting sporting dogs is one of her passions, but her paintings of Reveille are particularly stunning! In fact, Reveille is in each one of her paintings of scenes in Aggieland.

Our exciting line-up of guest speakers this year includes student representatives from the 12th Can Food Pantry, medical personnel from Student Health Services (A.P. Beutel Health Center), Tanya Gillespie with Taylor’s Place, and Dr. Jill Grimes, author of The Ultimate College Student Health Handbook.

For anyone who is interested in joining the San Antonio Aggie Moms’ Club, our meetings are held the first Tuesday of each month (except for January, June, and July) at 6:30 p.m. at Aggie Park. We have a simple meal, a guest speaker or other program, and drawings for door prizes and a $250 scholarship. It’s a great place to build friendships as we learn more about Texas A&M, have some fun, and raise funds for scholarships. For more information, please send inquiries to sanantoniomoms@ aggienetwork.com.

Gig’em!

Virginia McCleskey ’88

The San Antonio Aggie Women’s Club held a Scholarship Fundraiser on Saturday, October 1, 2022 where we had 185 people in attendance. Attendees enjoyed a raffle, silent, a served lunch along with a fashion show provided by Macy’s. We thank all who attended.

Our next luncheon meeting will be held on November 10th at Stonewerks on 1604 in the Vineyard.

AGGIE WOMEN’S CLUB

Luncheon Meeting Schedule: Meetings resumed in September 2022. All meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month, starting at 11am. Check out our Facebook page for updates on meetings, evening activities, and other items of interest related to all things Aggie!

If you are interested, or know someone who is interested in our club, please have them contact Donna Hill, dchill1025@att.net or at 210-241-6719.

Sandy Deitchle

WATCH PARTY

AT AGGIE PARK

Cheers to our first-ever Watch Party in the beautiful, newly renovated Aggie Park! We had a packed house watching the Aggies take home the “W” after their 31-0 defeat over Sam Houston State. The day included some unique door prizes, including a Texas A&M University football signed by Head Coach Jimbo Fisher, plenty of adult beverages sponsored by Rebecca Creek, and, of course, a rain delay. Thanks to all the Red Ass Aggies who patiently waited for the game to resume with us at Aggie Park.

We look forward to hosting you at The Roo Pub for those of you in Northeast San Antonio OR The Deuce Bar for those of you in Northwest San Antonio for the remainder of the football season. You can read additional details about the Watch Parties at www. aggiepark.com or check out our Facebook page.

Gig ‘Em

Brooke Byrum ‘17 Member

YOUNG AGGIES

OF SAN ANTONIO

The Fall season was officially announced on September 22nd and is finally here! As I look at the weather forecast for the next 10 days, we are finally getting some relief from the record-breaking heat of 2022. It’s an exciting time to be a member of the San Antonio Young Aggies. Each Saturday, we’ve got Fightin’ Texas Aggie Watch Parties scheduled for every A&M game and we’ve got Young Aggie officer elections in November.

In order for the San Antonio A&M Club to continue the mission of providing scholarships to Bexar County students, it’s time for the next generation of former students to find ways to get involved with our club. If you’re currently a member of the club, I encourage to tell a Young Aggie about our group! If you’re a Young

Aggie, plan to attend a few of upcoming events – we are excited to meet you.

Upcoming Events:

• 10/20/2022 – Aggie Happy Hour @ The Dooryard

• 11/11/2022 – Wurstfest Bus from Angry Elephant

• 11/17/2022 – Aggie Happy Hour @ Quarry Hofbrau

• 12/15/2022 – Aggie Happy Hour @ Blue Box

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions. My email is paul.schuder.jr@gmail. com.

Gig ‘Em Paul Schuder Jr. ‘18 Young Aggies Coordinator

San Antonio A&M Club

West Avenue San Antonio, TX 78213