Chris Glaeser ’80 is a member of the Tournament of Roses Committee and the Rose Float construction team for the city of South Pasadena, Calif. Last year Glaeser was selected to be the float operator in charge of animation and music and an observer. The South Pasadena float is one of the oldest floats in the Rose Parade. Glaeser sat in the mushroom and had a viewing port through the stem. He and his wife, Jane Brust ’83, also help decorate the float along with their daughter.

In Memoriam Lt. Zachary Ryan Cook ’08

U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Zachary Ryan Cook graduated from A&M in of Cadets with Cook. “He was one of Cook ’08 died Jan. 12 after a Texas December 2008 and was a newly the guys you could call up anytime of National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk commissioned Army aviation officer. the night and he would answer,” he helicopter in which he was a passenger Friends and family told the Bryan- said. “He would do anything for you.” crashed on Texas A&M’s Duncan Field College Station Eagle that Cook had Todd Foley, baseball coach at (see page 31 for more on the crash). dreamed of flying helicopters for the Lufkin High School, where Cook was Cook, 22, was a U.S. Army. the starting catcher his senior year, 2004 Lufkin High George Dalton ’08, who told the Lufkin Daily News that Cook School graduate knew Cook when both embodied everything he tried to teach who majored in were in the Corps of on the baseball field. “He was willing wildlife and fisheries Cadets, called him “one to do whatever it took to help out the sciences at A&M. of the greatest guys I ever team, and, no matter how big or small, “Zac was truly an met.” And Cook’s friend he was always there to get it done.” exceptional young Blake Leggett said Cook A memorial service was held for man, leader and a had been “dead set on Cook on Jan. 20 in Rudder Auditorium. great Aggie,” said serving his country” and A&M cadets marched to the auditorium Col. Samuell Hawes ’81, was ecstatic when he in formation, and members of Cook’s professor of military was accepted into Army former Corps unit, Company D-1, science. “He was the aviation. participated in the ceremony along consummate Aggie. “He broke the mold,” with the Parsons Mounted Calvary and He was friendly, fun, Leggett said. “That’s the ROTC cadre. loving, hard-working probably the world’s Funeral services were Jan. 17 at and hell-raisin’ at times.” Cook was a biggest loss is he’s the type of friend First Baptist Church in Lufkin. special young man with a swagger that everybody should have and everybody Cook’s Silver Taps notice appears on brought to mind a young John Wayne, should want to be.” Page 105 of this issue. Hawes said. Trey Davis ’08 was also in the Corps aggienetwork.com MAY-JUNE 2009 | Texas Aggie 15