Oklahoma is home to the Oklahoma State University Cowboy Jamboree. In Oklahoma it’s Sooners, boomers, cowboys, cowgirls and pioneers. Such colorful terms give clues to Oklahoma’s wild and colorful beginning.
The Oklahoma Territory, as many believe, is where the west was born. The Oklahoma Territory along with surrounding Kansas and Texas was unsettled and open country filled with unique characters, outlaws and men in search of fortunes that included cattle and oil. Many Indian tribes, then and still today, lived in the territory, some having been moved there from the US east coast. Through treaties, choice areas of the Oklahoma Territory or “unassigned lands” were closed to white settlers. But such wide open space was too much for the white man to leave too long to the Indian. The Sante Fe railroad went north and south through the area. So it made sense to want to build rest stations and communities to serve the railroad. In addition, the land was fertile and many sought it for farming and cattle raising. The Homestead Act of 1862 provided for land parcels to settlers and the Indian Appropriations Act of 1889 set up land runs that enabled people to make claim to land by racing for it during scheduled government land runs. These races were called land grabs. As might be expected many that had prior knowledge of the land grabs illegally moved into the territory so as to get the best pieces of land. Some even signed on as U.S. Marshalls (later to abandon the job) as a way to enter the Territory legally before others. These illegal land grabbers were called “Sooners.” Through time the name lost the negative side and by 1908 the University of Oklahoma adopted the name "Sooners" as the nickname of their football team. In all, there were seven land runs in Oklahoma. For an idea of what the rand runs were like, see the movie, "Far and Away," with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. The end of the movie centers on one land grab. Stillwater, which is the home for Oklahoma State University was part of the land grab and has as its slogan "Where Oklahoma Began."
Boomers is a term that has two meanings both related to the land grab. One meaning is a group of settlers who tried to grab land in the area before it was legal (different than the Sooners) and the other meaning refers to land grabbers who started their run at the "boom" of a gun.
Because Oklahoma was cattle country, there is a tradition and a history of cowboys and cowgirls. So when Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (Oklahoma A&M) became Oklahoma State University, cowboys and cowgirls were adopted as the nicknames for the university. And Pistol Pete became the mascot. Pistol Pete was a character modeled after a real person, Fred Eaton. Fred was a colorful person who had been a cowboy, US Marshall and other things. He used to march in parades dressed as a cowboy. When some Oklahoma State students saw him, they asked him to model for a caricature and Pistol Pete was born. New Mexico State University and Wyoming University also claim Pistol Pete as their mascot. The Cowboy Jamboree has a trophy that was designed by a local artist and is modeled on Pistol Pete. In Stillwater, Pistol Pete and the OSU orange are everywhere. Of course, today, Oklahoma is a modern state. But there are still glimpses of its colorful past in museums and side trips.
Around Stillwater
One thing that is very common in the area is the red dirt that manages to find itself on cars.
Boone Pickens Stadium A grand building now undergoing a $50 million addition to the training area.
As the home of OSU, Stillwater life is very attached to the university. Yet while OSU is still the largest employer, other businesses such as technology companies are taking hold. Many businesses cater to the university, particularly eating and drinking establishments. Like many college towns, Stillwater has an area adjacent to the University called "The Strip." It's rather colorful as seen in the photos below.
Not on the strip, but some say the most important place after a game or just for company any time is Eskimo Joes. To some the food is not so great but the atmosphere is awesome, especially around a Cowboys game.
Because Oklahoma was cattle country, there is a tradition and a history of cowboys and cowgirls. So when Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College (Oklahoma A&M) became Oklahoma State University, cowboys and cowgirls were adopted as the nicknames for the university. And Pistol Pete became the mascot. Pistol Pete was a character modeled after a real person, Fred Eaton. Fred was a colorful person who had been a cowboy, US Marshall and other things. He used to march in parades dressed as a cowboy. When some Oklahoma State students saw him, they asked him to model for a caricature and Pistol Pete was born. New Mexico State University and Wyoming University also claim Pistol Pete as their mascot. The Cowboy Jamboree has a trophy that was designed by a local artist and is modeled on Pistol Pete. In Stillwater, Pistol Pete and the OSU orange are everywhere. Of course, today, Oklahoma is a modern state. But there are still glimpses of its colorful past in museums and side trips.
