For over 100 years, the Yell Leaders have embodied the unique Aggie Spirit for which Texas A&M is so well known. The Yell Leaders are comprised of five students that are elected by the student body. They are the official spirit organization of the university and they lead Aggie fans in “yells” during athletic and other university events. Unlike cheerleaders, the Yell Leaders do not perform gymnastic feats. Instead they use a variety of hand signals, called “pass backs”, to direct and intensify the crowd. The Texas Aggie Yell Leaders represent the 12th Man at Aggie athletic events, serve as campus ambassadors to A&M and Aggie Mother’s Clubs across Texas and the U.S., and regularly make appearances at campus-wide events for current, new, and prospective students, former students, campus administrators, visitors, and dignitaries.  Midnight Yell Practice has been dubbed a “College Football Bucket List” item and is one of Texas A&M’s most well-known traditions.

In 1907, the first Yell Leaders were selected, and until 1936-37, what we now know as the Head Yell Leader was simply known as “Chief.” While most Yell Leaders have come from the Corps of Cadets, the first non-Corps, or “non-reg,” Yell Leader was selected in 1946.  Since then, a number of non-Corps Yell Leaders have served.  Of these, four Yell Leaders (Don Houston ’57, Robert Anderson ’62, Ronnie McDonald ’93 and Ricky Wood ’01) served two terms as a Yell Leader.  Wood ’01 is the only non-Corps Head Yell Leader. The only year in which there was more than one non-Corps Yell Leader was in 1973-74.  Ronnie McDonald ’93 was the first black Yell Leader and Memo Salinas ’22 was the first Hispanic Yell Leader. Read more about the Yell Leader history as told by the Association of Former Students.

Founded in 1995, the Former Yell Leaders Association was established to support the current Yell Leaders with fundraising, maintaining historical data about the Yell Leader program, and perpetuating the tradition of Yell Leaders at Texas A&M.