Oklahoma State University Athletics
Pistol Pete
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Pistol Pete Tryout
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After careful consideration, we will not be conducting Pistol Pete tryouts for the 2025-26 season. Our current Pistol Petes have demonstrated the skill, work ethic, and passion necessary for the position. For these reasons, they have earned a chance to represent Pistol Pete for a second term. Although this is disappointing news for potential applicants, we will be hosting workshops for our 2026 tryout in order to help prepare those that are interested. These dates will be released at the end of February 2025. Thank you for your understanding and Go Pokes!Our first workshop date is Monday, April 21 5-6PM. Location: TBA. The Spirit Coordinator and current Pistol Petes will be there to answer questions and give tryout information to potential applicants. If you are interested in attending, please click this link for more information.Â
LINK:Â https://forms.gle/Ci3EPaH9ihZa1ZYJA
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          OSU Spirit CoordinatorÂ
Book An Appearance
Pistol Pete is a full time student and appears at numerous OSU Athletic and Department Events. Schedule permitting, Pistol Pete appears at other special events (birthday parties, wedding receptions, etc). The fee is $0.52Â per mile round trip and $100 for a 30 minute appearance.Â
If you are interested, please use the request form one month prior to your event. Within one week of your request, Pistol Pete will let you know if he is available. Pistol Pete is only
permitted to fire his pistol and/or shotgun during an Oklahoma State University Athletic event.
 If you have questions / comments, please contact Beki Jackson, OSU Spirit Coordinator, at okstatepistolpete@gmail.com
History
From the 1890s on, Oklahoma A&M sports teams had been referred to as the Agriculturists or Aggies, the Farmers, and officially but unpopularly, the Tigers. But 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's 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.
The nickname was quickly adopted, yielding a genuine identity that had long been lacking on campus and around the community. Around 1923, an early U.S. deputy marshal, Frank B. "Pistol Pete" Eaton, headed Stillwater's Armistice Day Parade. At the parade's end, the search for a replacement for the Tigers was over.
The spirited image of a tough, proud, self-reliant cowboy triggered by Eaton became a cartoon drawing. The new mascot was easily woven into campus life, but it was not until 1984 that official sanction would be given to the emblem and its "Pistol Pete" moniker. By then, the Cowboys had already been settled into 60 years of vocabularies and print, spilling over into the general references to the student body, alumni, faculty and fans.
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 Old West with anyone who would listen.
Each year, 10 to 15 OSU students try out for Pistol Pete. A panel of former "Petes" judge the tryouts and select the two best candidates based on an interview, a mime, and posing as mascot in different "game situations". The two who are selected split the approximately 500 appearances annually, including all athletic events, pep rallies, business openings, weddings, birthday parties, and public school events.
Though Pistol Pete has been OSU's mascot since 1923, only since 1958 has someone worn the current garb and "head".
Click here for more information on Pistol Pete
Current Pistol Petes
   
Cooper Hamilton                             Brayden Smith
Alumni
The former Pistol Petes and the years they served are as follows:
1958-59 Charles Lester
1959-60 Bill Smith
1960-61 Curtis Manley and Bill Wehner
1961-62 Pete Fay and Dave Davis
1962-63 Ed Dobson
1963-64 Joe Sullivan and Gene Dorris
1964-65 Ed Dobson
1965-66 Phil Glasgow
1966-67 Steve Costello and Mitch Dobson
1967-70 Bill Johnson and Dale Clark
1970-71 Bill Ransdell and Ned Kessler
1971-72 Bill Ransdell and Richard Forshee
1972-73 Gary Bridwell and Mike Martin
1973-74 Joe Elsener and William E. Beckman
1974-75 Tom Bennett
1975-76 Mark Whitlaw
1976-77 John Michael Entz
1977-78 Rick Dillard and Wendall Hicks
1978-79 Dwain Gibson
1979-80 Scott Kirley and Kelley Green
1980-81 Kurt Carter and Don Giles
1981-82 Don Giles and Shane LaDuke
1982-83 Shane LaDuke and Rob Reynolds
1983-84 Rob Reynolds and Jesse Lancaster
1984-85 David Treece and Rick Wilson
1985-86 Rick Wilson* and Scott Petty
1986-87 Scott Petty and Scott Noble
1987-88 Lance Millis and Jack Franks
1988-89 Matt Ketchum and John Price
1989-90 John Price and Kent Walstad
1990-91 Billy Sigmon and Chris Moody
1991-92 Billy Sigmon and Trey Stewart
1992-93 Trey Stewart and Brad Chelf
1993-94 Vince Kirkes and Chris Carroll
1994-95 Vince Kirkes and Jeff Walls
1995-96 Ryan Stafford * and Cody Eden *
1996-97 Ryan Stafford * and Matt Ralls *
1997-98 Matt Ralls and Brock Allen
1998-99 Preston Williams * and Rhett Minson *
1999-2000 Rhett Minson and Rob Neville
2000-01 Wes Magill * and Joe Winchester *
2001-02 Tyler Mullman * and Stormy Phillips *
2002-03 Jason Hynson and Steven Sturgeon
2003-04 Josh Pulver **Â and Jared Wiley **
2004-05 Josh Pulver ** and Jared Wiley **
2005-06 Brett Adkins * and Eric Stroud *
2006-07 Ryan Nickel ** and Cale Walker **
2007-08 Michael Harris **Â and Ryan Nickel **
2008-09 Matt Barnes * and Rhys Gay *
2009-10 Derick Dillard * and Josh Bailey *
2010-11 Derick Dillard *Â and Wyatt Swinford *
2011-12 Jordan Northcutt ** and Taylor Venus **
2012-13 Austin Bowles ** and Dillon Craig **
2013-14 Austin Bowles ** and Landon Stallings **
2014-15 Landon Stallings ** and Preston Whitlaw **
2015-16 Preston Whitlaw and Taylor Collins
2016-17 Taylor Collins and Austin Johnson
2017-18 Steven Vekony and Kyle Foreman
2018-19 Steven Vekony and Kevin Osborn
2019-20 Kevin Osborn and Hunter Thomas
2020-21 Michael Albright and Parker Wilson
2021-22Â Michael Albright and Parker Wilson
2022-23 Cooper Price and Traber Smithson **
2023-24 Bryce Coon and Caden Schaufele ***
2024-25 Cooper Hamilton and Brayden Smith ***
2025-26 Cooper Hamilton and Brayden Smith
*All-American Mascot
**All-American and Most Collegiate Mascot
***Most Collegiate Mascot
