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Ronnie Mcdonald reminisces on his days as a Yell Leader and explains how the experiences he had at A&M led him down a path to success. He stresses the importance of retaining your idenity, but still focusing on your image as an Aggie first.

"I wanted the Aggie family to understand that it was more than an issue of race; it was about being an Aggie. I felt that, as a Yell Leader, I was an ambassador to people new to the University. So, while I was African-American, that wasn't my focus. My focus was that I was an Aggie, just like the rest of the student body. You have to know who you are, but you don't lose any of that by gaining from the people and experiences around you." said Ronnie McDonald.

Pioneer yell leader draws on Aggie background to find success in life

By: Ben Johnson

Posted: 2/15/08

Ronnie McDonald has a deep-seeded love for the Aggie family. "When I was a senior in high school, I visited the campus and just fell in love with the family atmosphere on campus," said McDonald, who currently serves as Bastrop County Judge. McDonald has a very close tie to the University. In addition to being the first in his immediate family to attend college, McDonald has the prestigious honor of being the University's first African-American Yell Leader.

McDonald was born and raised in Bastrop. "I was never really dead set on going to A&M. It was just never something that meant that much to me. But I had two cousins who were Aggies, and they loved it. I worked at a Dairy Queen and the regional manager was an Aggie. He offered to take me to campus once, and I accepted."

McDonald fell in love with the campus almost instantly.

"The group of Aggies I was with showed me around and showed a genuine interest in me," McDonald said. "I told them that I had aspirations to one day become student body president. They said that if I really wanted to do that, I should probably go to Fish Camp and have that experience."

McDonald attended Fish Camp and was somewhat unnerved by the people waving signs and yelling "Howdy!" and "Gig 'em!" After the initial shock wore off, however, McDonald found that Texas A&M was everything he had heard it was and more. Fish Camp initiated that realization.

"I remember very distinctly the nights when we would gather in a room and talk about ourselves, voice our concerns as incoming freshmen and learn about each other's backgrounds. It really helped to break down those barriers between race and color and creed. It helped me move away from my inhibitions."

After Fish Camp, McDonald moved on to live his life as an Aggie - an experience that would shape the history of the University. McDonald majored in political science and was a part of MSC Hospitality. But he decided that he would leave his mark on the University by running for Yell Leader.

McDonald said explaining the weight of his decision to his family was an interesting experience.

"I had to explain to them what a Yell Leader was in the first place, and why it was such an important part of the University." McDonald said. "My first thought was to use Yell Leader as a stepping stone to student body president, but once I got into it, I realized that I had found my place."

McDonald's campaign for Yell Leader was a difficult one. In addition to being African American, McDonald was not a member of the Corps of Cadets. McDonald said his campaign focused on unifying the student body. "My slogan was 'Insight, excite, unite and motive the masses of Texas A&M.' I wanted the Aggie family to understand that it was more than an issue of race; it was about being an Aggie." McDonald said. "I felt that, as a Yell Leader, I was an ambassador to people new to the University. So, while I was African-American, that wasn't my focus. My focus was that I was an Aggie, just like the rest of the student body. You have to know who you are, but you don't lose any of that by gaining from the people and experiences around you."

McDonald was ultimately successful in his campaign for Yell Leader. When McDonald graduated in 1993, he went to work for state comptroller John Sharp. During his five years under Sharp, McDonald served in many positions, including executive assistant to Sharp. After his tenure there, McDonald decided to pursue a position as county judge. At 24 years old, McDonald was faced with similar challenges he tackled at A&M.

"Running for Yell Leader and encountering all the different kinds of backgrounds helped me be less uncomfortable going around and talking to people and shaking people's hands and generally campaigning." McDonald said. "I had to basically go from door to door, gaining as much support as I could in order for my campaign for judge to succeed, and it wasn't something I was afraid to do."

In 1999, Judge Ronnie McDonald was sworn in as the first African-American county judge of Bastrop and the youngest in Texas history. McDonald continues to serve his community to this day and stands as a testament to the power of determination and self-discipline. In February of 2000, he was named Citizen of the Year by the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce.