In collaboration with the Eddie Sutton Foundation, the Pistol Pete Alumni group will include eight-year-old cancer survivor, Halle, in the 2026 Spurs Ceremony to welcome new Pistol Petes.

The Eddie Sutton Foundation was established in 2022 to honor the life and legacy of former Oklahoma State University men’s basketball coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Eddie Sutton. Guided by Coach Sutton’s principles of defense, dedication and discipline, the Foundation works to positively impact the fight against cancer by raising funds for research, supporting individuals and families affected by disease and providing meaningful OSU experiences for children battling cancer.

Cowboys vs. Cancer, a program within the Eddie Sutton Foundation, serves as the primary connection to OSU Athletics and creates opportunities for Cowboy and Cowgirl teams to join the fight through survivor recognition events, hospital visits, special experience and more throughout the year. Together, these efforts continue Coach Sutton’s legacy of caring for others while implementing a full-court press in the fight against cancer.

This year the Foundation has joined forces with the Pistol Pete Alumni group to create even more meaningful experiences for children and families affected by cancer. With a shared love of OSU and a commitment to serving other, the two organizations are able to combine their resources, relationships and Cowboy spirit to expand opportunities for the families they serve.

Halle was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia on May 16, 2025, after several months of appointments, tests and hospital stays. She is scheduled to complete her two-and-a-half-year long treatment journey July 2027.

For each new Pete, receiving their spurs symbolizes more than just the start of a new role. It marks their acceptance into a brotherhood of men who have represented OSU for generations and entrusted them with carrying forward one of the university’s most recognizable traditions.

The Spurs Ceremony will take place at the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center on Sept. 19 during the Cowboy Corral pep rally before Cowboy Football faces off against Murray State. Viewers will see the senior “Petes” pass the spurs to Halle who will then present them to two young men chosen as the university’s iconic mascot.