BY THE NUMBERS: A YEAR IN REVIEW… AND WHAT’S AHEAD FOR 2026
Howdy Ags,
For every former bandsman, there are a handful of experiences that stay with us for life — early mornings on the drill field, standing shoulder to shoulder before kickoff, and the lifelong friendships forged through shared sacrifice and pride.
The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band shaped who we are. It taught us discipline, leadership, and commitment to something bigger than ourselves. And today, that same experience is being challenged by rising costs that many current cadets simply cannot shoulder alone.
That is where the Texas Aggie Band Association steps in.
This update is intended to show you exactly how former bandsmen are coming together to support today’s cadets — and how even a small annual commitment can ensure no student ever has to turn down the opportunity to be in the band because of financial hardship.
I want to recognize the outstanding leadership and dedication of our past Texas Aggie Band Association President of four years, Rick Ashley ’76, along with the entire team of TABA officers and board members who have served alongside him. Because of their commitment, income generated through membership contributions and one-time donations has increased by more than 60% since the end 2022, representing an average annual growth rate of 18% through 2025.. That is a remarkable achievement and one that deserves sincere thanks.
I’ve been serving as President of the Texas Aggie Band Association for just over two months now, and one question I’m asked frequently is:
“What do my contributions actually pay for?”
That’s a fair question — and an important one. Below, I want to share exactly how your support is being used, along with where we’re headed next.
2025 Review — By the Numbers
TABA Income
$136,485 total income, including annual membership contributions, one-time donations, and matching gifts.
TABA Band & Cadet Support
Your contributions directly supported the Texas Aggie Band in the following ways:
$26,200 — Funded one Sul Ross Scholarship
$25,000 — Funded the Band Spring Formal (BQ Ball)
$3,279 — Travel polo shirts for incoming Fish
$18,035 — Drill practice T-shirts for the entire band
(Historically these were provided only to Fish, but in 2025 we ensured all cadets received at least two shirts.)
$4,419 — Senior Class Dinner
$8,032 — Junior FTAB sweaters
$10,890 — Two meals for FTAB cadets called back on Thanksgiving Day prior to the tu game (A catered Thanksgiving dinner and a boxed breakfast before departure.)
$3,333 — Texas Aggie Band Show (TABA splits the $10,000 cost evenly with the Corps of Cadets Association and the Association of Former Students.)
$2,556 — Various awards and recognitions
TABA Operating Expenses
This includes all costs of doing business — advertising, insurance, printing, postage, accounting, and credit card fees (which alone exceeded $3,000). Importantly, all TABA officers and board members serve as volunteers, meaning there are no salary expenses. This overhead is significantly lower than the 25%+ commonly seen in many philanthropic organizations.
Eternal Aggie Band Endowed Fund
The Eternal Aggie Band Endowed Fund was established in 1993 with an initial contribution of $1,000 per person. Today, the fund has grown to approximately $4 million in market value.
Up to 4% of the fund (roughly $160,000 annually) may be used at the discretion of the Aggie Band Director. Contributions of any amount, starting at $25, are welcome. A $1,000 lifetime contribution earns recognition on the Eternal Aggie Band Wall located in the MAC.
Donations can be made through the TABA Website using the designated button.
Active Membership — By the Numbers
As of the end of the 2025 calendar year:
10.8% of former living FTAB members in our database are active, dues-paying TABA members
This averages to 6–10 active members per class year
At year end we had 484 active members, spanning the Classes of 1952 through 2024
(The Class of 2025 receives a complimentary first-year membership.)
Participation by class varies widely:
2 classes with 20 or more active members
1 class with 50%+ participation
6 classes with 30-39% participation
12 classes with 20–29% participation
16 classes with 10–19% participation
37 classes with under 10% participation
Many people tell me that a 10-11% participation rate is acceptable for a philanthropic organization. Frankly, I personally have a hard time accepting that. And with your help, I believe we can increase this number significantly.
The Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band has never been an average organization — and neither are its former members. For most of us, those four years shaped who we are today. They taught leadership, discipline, teamwork, and created friendships that have lasted decades.
With the rising costs faced by today’s Corps of Cadets, now is the time for more former bandsmen to step up. Our goal is simple:
No prospective cadet should ever turn down the opportunity to be in the band because of cost.
Active memberships begin at just $50 per year. If you’ve let a membership lapse, please consider reactivating it. If you’ve never joined, we invite you to start today using the link below.
Agenda for 2026
The 2026–27 TABA officers and board members will continue building on the strong momentum of recent years. A one year goal of 15% active membership is both reasonable and achievable — many individual classes could reach that level by adding just 4–10 members.
I tested this personally with my own Class of ’80. In less than two months, we grew from 18 to 34 active members — simply by asking. Class of ‘79 did the same thing, and increased from 12 to 20 active members.
Here’s what’s already underway or planned for discussion in 2026:
Baritone Replacement Program
The Director of Bands, Dr. Tim Rhea, has recently requested assistance replacing 30 baritones nearing the end of their usable life. Total cost is approximately $100,000. TABA has approved up to $25,000 toward this effort, with an online giving option for individual contributions coming soon.
Drill Field Video Camera System
Plans are underway to obtain bids for permanent video cameras on the drill field and MAC. This will significantly enhance rehearsal review and instruction.
Class Liaison Program
In an effort to ensure our contact information is up to date and accurate, we have identified 22 class liaisons to date, with 7 having completed full database reviews of their respective classes. Early results include:
50 class members not previously accounted for
130 email addresses added or corrected
60 phone numbers updated
42 mailing addresses updated
If you would like to volunteer to represent your Class and help us with this endeavour, email me personally at president@tabaonline.com.
Social Media Expansion
The TABA Facebook page has been relaunched, with Instagram coming soon. We are also exploring the idea of engaging a marketing major within the band as a social media intern. Or finding a former band member with marketing experience willing to volunteer their time and help us with this task.
Tutoring Assistance
We are reviewing options to help cadets offset tutoring costs, including reimbursement processes and communication plans.
Graduate School Test Prep Stipends
Support for LSAT, MCAT, GRE, and similar prep courses (often $700+) for prospective graduate students from the band will be discussed at the April Board Meeting.
Outfit-Level Financial Support
We will be meeting soon with outfit leadership to better understand and address specific financial needs.
Thank you so much to our current active members — and to those who have supported the TABA in the past. Once again, if you’ve let a membership lapse, please consider reactivating it. If you haven’t yet joined, we would be honored to have you.
Take care and Gig ’em,
