Pizza Bread, a beloved Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology icon that served as a delicious, cost-efficient meal for countless students for decades, is returning to campus for the first time in decades during a grand celebration.

Pizza Bread Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, outside the State Room. The return of Pizza Bread will be celebrated with games, music and free Pizza Bread.

The celebration will also include a special announcement from Okmulgee Mayor Mickey Baldwin, as well as a Pizza Bread Eating Competition and a Pizza Bread Building Competition.

Pizza Bread Day
April 7
OSUIT Culinary Patio
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Schedule 
11 a.m. – Special Announcement from Okmulgee Mayor Mickey Baldwin

11:05 a.m. – Pizza Bread is Served (supplies are limited, so get in line early!)

11:30 a.m. – Pizza Bread Eating Competition (email kerri.brownfield@okstate.edu if you want to compete)

Noon – Pizza Bread Building Competition

12:30 p.m. – Sign Off

The Story Behind Pizza Bread 

Pizza Bread was created in the early 1970s by Glenn Shoaf, an OSUIT baking instructor and supervisor who retired after 38 years at the college.

Shoaf came up with Pizza Bread during brainstorming for the campus’s bakery retail store.

“[It had to be] something that would be good for the students, production-wise, skill-wise, teamwork, and it dawned on me, ‘Well, we've never had pizza.’ And I thought, ‘This could be complicated, or it could be simple,’” he said.

Shoaf went with simple, concocting a recipe that included a half-loaf of the bakery’s homemade French breads, sauce mix, cheese and one of two toppings.

“It was a matter of slicing the bread, putting the sauce on it, putting the meat on it, which is pepperoni or hamburger back then, putting the cheese on it, putting it back in the oven, melting the cheese, putting it in the bag, putting it out in the store,” he said.

Around 200-250 Pizza Breads were prepared each Friday. It was sold from the bakery store starting at 11 a.m. and was usually sold out by 11:30 a.m. Pizza Bread quickly became an essential part of student culture at OSUIT.

“So, it continued on. [The students] wouldn’t let us quit,” Shoaf said.

Each Pizza Bread was 18 inches long and sold for $1. Students would purchase multiple Pizza Breads, many of whom relied on Pizza Bread as their weekend meal.

“We didn't get rich off of it, but we didn't lose either. And the big thing was the students were very, very happy. That was one of our main missions — for the students,” he said.

Pizza Bread’s popularity grew beyond the OSUIT campus thanks to students taking it back home to their families. Okmulgee residents and even folks from Tulsa and Oklahoma City traveled to OSUIT to purchase Pizza Bread, Shoaf said.

“Of course, they had to get here quickly because it went quickly,” he said. “It got a lot of mileage.”

As the years went on, Pizza Bread’s price increased to $2, and the topping options changed to either pepperoni or sausage.

Pizza Bread was discontinued in the mid-90s, but its memory endured. Past students never forgot how delicious and filling it was. Current students were intrigued by its legend and enthusiastically signed petitions to bring back Pizza Bread.

Shoaf said he is grateful for the everlasting love for Pizza Bread.

The Return of Pizza Bread

The return of Pizza Bread is the result of a monthlong campaign that joined current students, alumni and supporters to rally for the return of this beloved tradition. Hundreds signed petitions both online and in person, demonstrating overwhelming enthusiasm for its revival.

The official return was announced on March 31 by OSU President Jim Hess. On Pizza Bread Day, culinary faculty and staff will once again serve up the iconic favorite, free to attendees while supplies last. Shoaf will be on hand to help with the preparation, ensuring the pizza bread of 2026 is just as good as ever.

Story By: Hicham Raache | hicham.raache@okstate.edu