America's favorite mascot
A tradition was born in the early 1920s when OSU (then Oklahoma A&M College) began searching for a new mascot. The true roots of Pistol Pete began more than a century ago. Pistol Pete is more than a character, he is a legend.
The character of OSU’s mascot, Pistol Pete, originated from an actual person named Frank B. Eaton. Eaton’s life began in 1860 in Hartford, Connecticut. Eaton and his family moved to Kansas shortly after the Civil War.
Born Francis Boardman Eaton, the title of “cowboy” came naturally to Eaton. He was given the nickname Pistol Pete at the age of 15 after out-shooting everyone in the 6th Cavalry at Fort Gibson. Throughout his life he served as detective for the Cattleman's Assoc. hunting down cattle thieves (some of whom were responsible for killing his father), US Deputy Marshal under Issac Parker "the hanging judge", and an Army scout in battles against Geronimo and the Apaches. He was an author, blacksmith, and father of 10.
From the 1890s on Oklahoma A&M College sports teams had been referred to as the Agriculturists or Aggies, the Farmers, and officially but unpopularly, the Tigers. By 1924 Charles Saulsberry, sports editor of the Oklahoma City Times, and other writers who regularly covered college events had begun to refer to Stillwater teams as the A&M Cowboys. The Athletic Council authorized Athletic Director Edward C. Gallagher to have 2,000 balloons printed, "Oklahoma Aggies - Ride Em Cowboy" for sale at football games in 1926.
Around 1923, when Oklahoma A&M College was searching for a new mascot to replace their tiger (which had been copied from Princeton and accounts for the orange and black school colors), a group of students saw Frank Eaton leading Stillwater's Armistice Day Parade. He was approached to see if he would be interested in being the model for the new mascot, and he agreed. A likeness was drawn and began to be used on sweatshirts, stickers, etc. and a tradition was born. That caricature was the basis for what is used today as the official Oklahoma State University mascot. For thirty-five years, the crusty old cowboy was a living symbol of OSU, representing the colorful past of the area. As such, he would attend OSU athletic events, building dedications, etc., and sign autographs, pose for photographs and reminisce about the "American Old West" with anyone who would listen. While talking to history classes at Oklahoma A & M in 1955, Eaton accidentally fired his gun in the Student Union Varsity Room while demonstrating his fast draw. Today a plaque marks the location where the bullet hit the wall in the Student Union basement.
To this day, his likeness is a visible reminder of the Old West to literally millions of people yearly as a symbol of colleges whose mascots pay homage to the cowboy. However, it was not until 1958 that "Pistol Pete" was adopted as the school's mascot. The familiar caricature of "Pistol Pete" was officially sanctioned in 1984 by Oklahoma State University as a licensed symbol.
On April 9, 2022, Eaton was posthumously inducted by the National Cowboy Western Heritage Center and Museum in Oklahoma City into the Hall of Great Westerners. The award was accepted by three of Eaton’s grandchildren, Elizabeth Wise’s children, William Wise, Dinah Wagner, and Harvey Wise. Sharing the stage with them were 27 former Oklahoma State University Pistol Pete mascots.
Logging Requirements:
To claim this Virtual geocache send a geocaching message or email with answers to the questions below.
Found It logs without the required information sent within 7 days of logging will be deleted. DO NOT post any answers in your found It log. The required photo should posted with your log, group photos should be posted for every finder.
Group finds can be sent in one message for the group - include all names that the group message is for.
#1 & 2: According the the plaques,
1. What was Frank Eaton known to carry with him?
2. What were his 3 trademarks?
3. Which hand is Frank Eaton holding his pistol?
4. How many spikes are visible on Frank's left spur?
5. Post a photo with your found log of you or your personal geocaching item with the statue of Frank and his horse.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.