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| Oklahoma State is on Target with "Pistol Pete!" |
OKLAHOMA STATE: PISTOL PETE
Almost since Oklahoma State first sported the Cowboy nickname, a
menacing figure with a large hat and equally imposing mustache began
stalking the sidelines in Stillwater. However intimidating the mascot may
appear to be, the man it was modeled after dwarfs him.
Pistol Pete, a.k.a. Frank Eaton was first spotted in 1923 by a group of
students leading an Armistice Day Parade. He was approached by the
group about being a model for their new mascot and he agreed. Soon his
likeness was appearing on T-shirts, stickers and other A&M
merchandise.
As it turned out, the students were right on target when they picked
Eaton. The man was a notorious wrangler and was legendary in old west
circles.
Born in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut, Frank Eaton moved with his family
to Kansas City shortly before the end of the Civil War. When Frank was
eight years old, his father, a former Union soldier was murdered by a
lawless group of former Confederates. From that day forward, Frank
vowed to avenge his father’s shooting.
When Frank turned 15, he visited Fort Gibson to learn how to handle
guns. It wasn’t long before he was able to outshoot the cavalry’s best
marksmen. The fort’s commanding officer gave the youngster a
marksmanship badge and a new name. From that day on, Frank Eaton
would be known as Pistol Pete.
Frank then departed the Fort in search of his father’s killers and
subsequently killed them one by one. Ultimately, though, Frank met his
own doom from the bullet of the last of his father’s executors, though his
assailant died as well in the gunfire.
Almost since Oklahoma State first sported the Cowboy nickname, a
menacing figure with a large hat and equally imposing mustache began
stalking the sidelines in Stillwater. However intimidating the mascot may
appear to be, the man it was modeled after dwarfs him.
Pistol Pete, a.k.a. Frank Eaton was first spotted in 1923 by a group of
students leading an Armistice Day Parade. He was approached by the
group about being a model for their new mascot and he agreed. Soon his
likeness was appearing on T-shirts, stickers and other A&M
merchandise.
As it turned out, the students were right on target when they picked
Eaton. The man was a notorious wrangler and was legendary in old west
circles.
Born in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut, Frank Eaton moved with his family
to Kansas City shortly before the end of the Civil War. When Frank was
eight years old, his father, a former Union soldier was murdered by a
lawless group of former Confederates. From that day forward, Frank
vowed to avenge his father’s shooting.
When Frank turned 15, he visited Fort Gibson to learn how to handle
guns. It wasn’t long before he was able to outshoot the cavalry’s best
marksmen. The fort’s commanding officer gave the youngster a
marksmanship badge and a new name. From that day on, Frank Eaton
would be known as Pistol Pete.
Frank then departed the Fort in search of his father’s killers and
subsequently killed them one by one. Ultimately, though, Frank met his
own doom from the bullet of the last of his father’s executors, though his
assailant died as well in the gunfire.
Traditions, Mascots, Nicknames & More |