Although Pistol Pete has been Oklahoma State University’s mascot since 1923 (then called Oklahoma A & M), only since 1958, when
Frank Eaton died, have OSU students been chosen to portray Pistol
Pete. Pete is now a fixture at campus and athletic events, parades, business openings, birthday parties, weddings, and even a few funerals. Most years, two students are chosen because of the high volume of ‘appearances’. As of 2022, around 750 appearances are scheduled
annually, between the two Petes. The group of men who have served
as OSU’s mascot are a tight-knit group of colorful individuals who take great pride in representing their university and the Eaton fam-
ily. Members of that group are listed below.

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

242 Veteran of the Old West

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
1974-76 Mark Whitlaw
1975-76 Joe Semtner
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

Pistol Pete 243

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 ** 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 ** and Ryan Nickel **
2008-09 Matt Barnes * and Rhys Gay *
2009-10 Derick Dillard * and Josh Bailey *
2010-11 Derick Dillard * and Wyatt Swinford *
2011-12 Jordan Northcutt ** and Taylor Venus **
2012-13 Austin Bowles ** and Dillon Craig **
2013-14 Austin Bowles ** and Landon Stallings **

244 Veteran of the Old West

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
2021-22 Michael Albright and Parker Wilson
2022-23 Cooper Price and Traber Smithson
*All-American Mascot
**All-American and Most Collegiate Mascot