It is believed Professor William Leonidas Mayo purchased the bell in 1886 for use in calling public school students to class in Pecan Gap, Texas. Professor Mayo brought this simple cast iron farm bell to Commerce in 1895 and used it to rouse students for morning classes and to summon students to dinner time in the evenings. Future Speaker Sam Rayburn paid his way through school by ringing the bell in the mornings. For decades, this bell was used to celebrate Lion athletics triumphs. It was also a frequent focus of our athletic opponent’s attention and was “stolen” on more than one occasion by our rival schools.