"My boy, may an old man's curse rest upon you if you do not try to avenge your father."

In 1868, an eight-year-old boy named Frank Eaton witnessed his father’s cold-blooded murder at the hands of lawless vigilantes. Most children would have been broken; Frank just got a gun.

In this week’s episode, Jess traces the incredible 97-year journey of the man who would become Pistol Pete. We’re diving deep into the dusty trails of the Old West to follow a legendary marksman who outshot the U.S. Cavalry at fifteen, served as a Deputy Marshal under the "Hanging Judge" Isaac Parker, and spent decades hunting down the men who destroyed his family.

But Frank Eaton’s story didn't end with a smoking gun. We explore his unlikely transition from a gritty frontier lawman to a beloved community fixture in Perkins, Oklahoma—and eventually, the living face of Oklahoma State University.

Tune in as we discuss:

• The Blood Debt: The high-stakes duels Frank fought to clear his father’s name.

• Kooky Facts: Why Frank was often seen walking barefoot on red-hot metal.

• The Mascot Wars: The modern-day legal battles between OSU, Wyoming, and New Mexico State over who owns the "rootin’-tootin’" legend.

• The Man Behind the Mask: How a 1923 parade changed the identity of Oklahoma sports forever.

Whether you're an OSU fan or just a lover of wild frontier history, this is the story of a man who lived by the gun and died a legend.

Pistols firing! 🔫🍊

Sources:

• Wikipedia - Frank Eaton

• Frank Eaton Historical Home 

• National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum

• Oklahoma Senate

• Oklahoma State University

• Visit Stillwater OK.com

• Cowboy State Daily