The Origin Story: Frank Eaton, the Real Pistol Pete

Long before he was a caricature on a football field, “Pistol Pete” was a living, breathing person named Frank Boardman Eaton. Born in 1860, Eaton’s life was the stuff of cinematic westerns. His path toward becoming a legend began with a tragedy; at the age of eight, he witnessed his father being murdered by a group of former Confederates known as the Camp-Ruby Gang.

Eaton’s quest for justice—or more accurately, vengeance—defined his youth. Encouraged by a family friend to “learn to outshoot” the men who killed his father, Eaton practiced relentlessly with a revolver. By the age of 15, he visited Fort Gibson, a cavalry post, where his marksmanship was so superior to the soldiers that the commanding officer gave him the nickname “Pistol Pete.”

Eaton eventually hunted down the men responsible for his father’s death, killing five of the six (the last was killed by someone else). He later served as a U.S. Marshal and lived out his later years in Perkins, Oklahoma, near Stillwater.

Transitioning from Tigers to Cowboys

In the early 20th century, Oklahoma A&M (which would later become Oklahoma State University) was actually known as the “Tigers.” The school’s colors, orange and black, were inherited from Princeton, the alma mater of the school’s first faculty members.

However, the “Tigers” moniker didn’t resonate with the local culture. In 1923, Frank Eaton marched in a Stillwater Armistice Day parade. Students and faculty were struck by his authentic “Old West” presence. He was the embodiment of the Oklahoma spirit: tough, resilient, and fiercely independent.

By 1924, Eaton began appearing at school events, and the student body informally adopted him as their living mascot. It wasn’t until 1958, shortly after Eaton’s passing, that the university officially transitioned to the “Cowboys” and adapted Eaton’s likeness into the mascot we recognize today.

The Parallel Legend: “Pistol” Pete Maravich

As the OSU mascot became a staple of Big 12 (formerly Big Eight) sports, another “Pistol Pete” was rising to national prominence on the basketball court. Peter Press Maravich, born in 1947, remains perhaps the greatest creative force in the history of basketball.

Maravich earned his nickname in high school because of his habit of shooting the ball from his hip, mimicking the draw of a gunslinger. This stylistic choice, combined with his incredible scoring output at LSU and later in the NBA, cemented “Pistol Pete” as one of the most recognizable brands in sports.

The Connection: Myth vs. Reality

The connection between the OSU mascot and Maravich is often a point of debate among sports historians. Did one inspire the other?

• Timeline: Frank Eaton was the original “Pistol Pete” by nearly 70 years. His nickname was earned in the 1870s, while Maravich’s was coined in the 1960s.
• Cultural Crossover: While they are two distinct entities, they share a thematic DNA. Both represented a “maverick” spirit. Maravich was a rebel on the court who defied traditional coaching with his flashy passing and long-range shooting; Eaton was a man who lived by his own code of law on the frontier.
• The Confusion: Many casual fans assume the OSU mascot was named after the basketball player because of Maravich’s immense fame during the era when mascot branding became a multi-million dollar industry. In reality, OSU’s Pistol Pete is an homage to a specific historical figure of the Oklahoma territory, not the LSU tiger.

The Legal and Intellectual Property of a Legend

From a legal and branding perspective, the name “Pistol Pete” is one of the most contested in collegiate athletics. Oklahoma State University holds federal trademarks for the name and the image of the mascot.

This has led to historical friction with other institutions. For example, the New Mexico State Aggies also use a “Pistol Pete” mascot that looks strikingly similar to Frank Eaton. In 2014, the two universities reached a settlement regarding the use of the image. OSU retains the rights to the “classic” Eaton-inspired head, while New Mexico State uses a modified version.

The Maravich estate also manages the “Pistol Pete” brand in a professional and commercial capacity. It is a rare instance where a single nickname serves as the primary identity for a historical lawman, a major university, and a global basketball icon simultaneously.

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The Enduring Legacy of the Cowboy

Today, the Oklahoma State mascot is more than just a costume. The students who portray Pistol Pete undergo a rigorous selection process. They must be able to handle the 40-pound head, maintain a strict fitness regimen, and embody the character of Frank Eaton—meaning no talking and a stoic, professional demeanor.

The mascot serves as a bridge between Oklahoma’s rugged past and its academic future. While the “Pistol Pete” nickname will always bring to mind the flashy behind-the-back passes of Maravich for basketball purists, at Oklahoma State, it remains a solemn tribute to the man who outshot the cavalry and brought justice to the plains.

Why the Name Persists

The reason both the mascot and the player share the name so successfully is the “Gunslinger” archetype. In American culture, the gunslinger represents individual excellence and the courage to stand alone.

Whether it was Frank Eaton facing down the Camp-Ruby gang or Pete Maravich pulling up for a 30-foot jumper before the three-point line existed, “Pistol Pete” signifies a person who is the master of their craft. For Oklahoma State, keeping the name is about preserving the authentic history of the Land Run era and the pioneers who built the state.

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Conclusion

The history of the Oklahoma State mascot is a masterclass in how local history can evolve into a global brand. While Pete Maravich brought the name to the bright lights of the NBA, the roots of the moniker are firmly planted in the red dirt of Oklahoma. Frank Eaton’s life story provides the “Cowboys” with a level of historical authenticity that few other mascots can claim.

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