Pete's History
Purdue Pete was not always Purdue’s mascot, nor did he always have the name Pete. The character first came to life in 1940 when the store owners of the University Book Store wanted an advertising logo. They hired an Artist to create a logo and thus the character was created. He didn’t receive the name Pete until the year 1944. The editors of Purdue’s yearbook, Debris, wanted to use the logo on the cover of the yearbook. When the editors asked the store owners for a name, one of the owners blurted out Pete. From that point on he was dubbed “Purdue Pete”.
Pete did not make an in person debut until the year 1956 when he came out onto the football field for a pep rally. This was after the then athletic director Guy Mackey gave consent to create a mascot. The lucky person to be the first ever Purdue Pete was a man named Larry Brumbaugh. However this came with a lot of responsibility too, because he had to decide on the costume for Purdue Pete to wear. After a long search he ended up with a chicken wire and papier-mache Purdue Pete head. Luckily for the student who is Purdue Pete nowadays, the new and improved head has a carbon fiber frame rather than the uncomfortable and bulky papier-mache . Purdue Pete's uniform is gold and black which symbolize Purdue University school colors. The hammer in which fans will see him carry is a symbol of an authentic boilermaker as railroad workers many years ago would swing mallets to put nails into the railroads, and also symbolizes the strength and determination of a true boilermaker.
It didn’t take long for Purdue Pete to become an icon, and for many people to want to be Pete himself. Purdue appoints four students to play as Pete throughout the year. About 50 people try out each year, according to the Purdue athletic office. Since Pete is played by a student, he seems much more relatable to fans and students.
Purdue Pete is an icon for Purdue, rich with history. Furthermore he is a public figure, who makes many public appearance ranging from being on TV at the country music awards to showing up at a charity event. Purdue Pete began as an advertising logo, but has since been molded into more of an public figure not just for Purdue, but for West Lafayette.
Pete did not make an in person debut until the year 1956 when he came out onto the football field for a pep rally. This was after the then athletic director Guy Mackey gave consent to create a mascot. The lucky person to be the first ever Purdue Pete was a man named Larry Brumbaugh. However this came with a lot of responsibility too, because he had to decide on the costume for Purdue Pete to wear. After a long search he ended up with a chicken wire and papier-mache Purdue Pete head. Luckily for the student who is Purdue Pete nowadays, the new and improved head has a carbon fiber frame rather than the uncomfortable and bulky papier-mache . Purdue Pete's uniform is gold and black which symbolize Purdue University school colors. The hammer in which fans will see him carry is a symbol of an authentic boilermaker as railroad workers many years ago would swing mallets to put nails into the railroads, and also symbolizes the strength and determination of a true boilermaker.
It didn’t take long for Purdue Pete to become an icon, and for many people to want to be Pete himself. Purdue appoints four students to play as Pete throughout the year. About 50 people try out each year, according to the Purdue athletic office. Since Pete is played by a student, he seems much more relatable to fans and students.
Purdue Pete is an icon for Purdue, rich with history. Furthermore he is a public figure, who makes many public appearance ranging from being on TV at the country music awards to showing up at a charity event. Purdue Pete began as an advertising logo, but has since been molded into more of an public figure not just for Purdue, but for West Lafayette.