95 years ago, E. King Gill became Texas A&M's first 12th Man

It is one of collegiate athletics most storied traditions, one created 95 years ago Monday.

Texas A&M student E. King Gill emerged as the first "12th Man" for the university when he took to the sidelines in support of an injury-riddled Aggie football team.

As the story goes, A&M was playing Centre College -- the nation's top-ranked team with a 10-0 record -- on January 2, 1922 in Dallas. Gill, a sophomore who had been part of the team at one point, was in the press box serving as a spotter for members of the media.

Throughout the game, Aggie players kept getting injured. A&M Head Coach Dana X. Bible knew Gill was at the game, and eventually waved for him to come down to the field.

Gill put on the jersey of an injured player underneath stadium bleachers and stood on the sidelines ready to play, though he never had to play a down. In the end, the depleted Aggies -- 11 regular players and Gill as the 12th -- upset Centre, 22-14.

"I wish I could say that I went in and ran for the winning touchdown, but I did not," Gill was quoted as saying. "I simply stood by in case my team needed me."

In the 95 years since the 12th Man was born as a symbol of Aggies' willingness to serve when called upon and needed, the name and tradition has grown.

The fundraising arm of Aggie Athletics since 1950 was renamed from the Aggie Club to the 12th Man Foundation.

A life-sized statue of Gill was placed at the north entrance to Kyle Field in 1980. That statue was moved into Rudder Plaza when, in 2014, a 12-foot-tall statue of Gill was unveiled outside the northeast corner of the stadium.

In 1983, Head Coach Jackie Sherrill dubbed his special teams unit -- made up of only walk-on players -- as the 12th Man kickoff team. By 1990, Head Coach R.C. Slocum put a single walk-on wearing the number 12 on his kickoff and punt teams. To this day, a 12 can usually been seen during special teams plays.

The 12th Man Towel was first handed out to fans at Kyle Field in 1985.

Three years later, "Home of the 12th Man" was affixed to the student section stands at the stadium.

Texas A&M has also held the trademark for "12th Man" since 1990. The university monitors the use of the term and polices its trademark. Notably, the university has filed legal action against the Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts over the National Football League teams' usage of "12th Man." In both cases, settlements were reached.

E. King Gill graduated from A&M in 1924. He became a physician and worked in Corpus Christi for more than four decades. He died in his Rockport home in 1974.