Six people are standing in a row, dressed formally in black suits and dresses. They are wearing medals around their necks. The background features a stone wall with floral arrangements on either side.

OSU Alumni Association inducts Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Media Contact: Mack Burke | Associate Director of Media Relations | 405-744-5540 | editor@okstate.edu

The Oklahoma State University Alumni Association honored six new members of the OSU Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Feb. 7 in the ConocoPhillips OSU Alumni Center. Frank Eaton, Jay Helm, Drs. John and Catherine Jameson, Melinda Stinnett, and Jerry Winchester received the university’s highest honor. The award celebrates outstanding lifetime achievements in society and professional life.

Frank Eaton

An elderly man with long braided hair, wearing a plaid shirt and a bolo tie. The photograph is in black and white. Frank Eaton was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on Oct. 26, 1860.

Eaton was a cowboy, scout, trail rider and a Deputy U.S. Marshal. The legend goes he learned to shoot a gun at age 8 and won the nickname “Pistol Pete” at 15 when he outshot the U.S. Cavalry’s best marksmen at Fort Gibson in the Indian Territory.

While leading the 1923 Armistice Day Parade in Stillwater, a group of Oklahoma A&M College students asked him for permission to use his likeness as the college emblem. For more than 30 years, Eaton walked the sidelines at OSU athletic events and other school gatherings, demonstrating his quick draw skills, posing for photos and keeping the crowds cheering.

Eaton was also an author, writing two books about his life. “Pistol Pete: Veteran of the Old West” was published in 1952, and “Campfire Stories: Remembrances of a Cowboy Legend” posthumously in the early 1990s. In 1950, he began writing a weekly column for the Perkins Journal, initially titled “Truthful Pete Says,” which later changed to “Pistol Pete Says.”

The mythology around Pistol Pete continued throughout his life. Even in his later years, he could still toss a coin into the air, draw his pistol and shoot it before it hit the ground.

Eaton died at his home in Perkins, Oklahoma, at age 97 on April 18, 1958. At the time of his death, he earned his living as a blacksmith and deputy sheriff.

In 1997, the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City honored Eaton with their director’s award for his contributions to the memory of the Old West. In 2022, he was inducted into their Hall of Great Westerners.

OSU celebrated “The Year of the Cowboy” in 2023, marking the 100th anniversary of Eaton being selected to represent the university.

He lived a long life and left behind a remarkable story of resilience and courage. Generations of OSU alumni and sports fans have a special place in their hearts for “Pistol Pete.”

“Grandad was a great storyteller and often told us of his adventures, of the people he knew and tales they shared. He never met a stranger.Anybody that came to his door was welcome.”

— Dow Wise on behalf of Frank Eaton

Jay Helm

A man in a formal black suit with an orange bow tie and pocket square is standing indoors. He is wearing a medal around his neck. The background shows some blurred decorations and architectural elements. J. Loy “Jay” Helm graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. While on campus, he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, an experience that deepened his passion for OSU. Upon graduation, he quickly began supporting OSU as a football and basketball booster.

After graduating, Helm began employment with the Hardesty Company. Prior to forming American Residential Group in 1997, he served as managing partner for Lincoln Property Company in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Helm currently serves as chairman of American Residential Group, a commercial real estate firm engaged in developing and managing multifamily residential properties.

In 2001, Helm’s passion for broad and equal access to quality public higher education was recognized by Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating. He was appointed to the OSU/A&M Board of Regents, where he served for 12 years until being appointed by Gov. Mary Fallin to the State Regents for Higher Education in 2013. He served the State Regents until his retirement in 2022.

Helm currently serves as the chair of the OSU Medical Authority Board of Trustees and OSU Medical Trust Board of Trustees. He also serves on the MapleMark Bank Board and the executive committee of the board of directors for the Tulsa Regional Chamber while being active in many other civic projects.

Previously, Helm served on the boards of the University Center at Tulsa, F&M Bank and Trust, and OSU-Tulsa Trustees.

Helm received the OSU Center for Health Sciences Distinguished Public Service Award in 2009 and was selected as an OSU in Tulsa Icon in 2017 for his contributions to the university. The Spears School of Business named him to its Spears School Tributes: 100 for 100 list in 2014 and inducted him into its hall of fame in 2022. One year later, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame. Helm is also a member of the Proud and Immortal Society for helping support OSU in other areas, including multiple endowed scholarships.

Helm and his wife, Fayenelle, have been married 45 years and have one daughter, Christian Helm Leikam, son-in-law, Robert Leikam Jr., and grandchildren, Nellie and RK. Helm is a life plus member of the OSU Alumni Association.

“It’s exciting where we’ve gone and where this university is going. I’m proud to be a Cowboy.”

— Jay Helm

Drs. John and Catherine Jameson

A man and a woman are standing side by side, both wearing formal attire. The man is dressed in a black suit with a white shirt and an orange tie, while the woman is wearing a long black dress. Both individuals have medals hanging around their necks on orange ribbons. They are standing in front of a brick wall with floral decorations above them. Dr. John H. Jameson graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in zoology in 1970. He completed his doctorate in dental surgery at Creighton University in 1974. Dr. Catherine E. Jameson attended OSU before earning a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, a master’s degree in psychology from Goddard College and a doctorate from Walden University.

While at OSU, John served on the College of Arts and Sciences Student Council, was sports editor of the OSU yearbook and pledge trainer for Lambda Chi Alpha. He also worked for four years at the Edmon Low Library.

John practiced dentistry in Wynnewood, Oklahoma, for 30 years and brought his knowledge of comprehensive and aesthetic dentistry to the podium. Cathy founded Jameson Management Inc., an international management, hygiene and marketing firm.

John received the Alumni Merit Award from the Creighton School of Dentistry. He served on boards for the Oklahoma Dental Association, the Foundation for Academic Excellence, the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association and Jameson Management Inc. He also serves on the Associate Board of Directors for the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

Cathy was inducted into the OSU College of Education and Human Sciences Hall of Fame. She served on the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees and now on its Board of Governors. She was named one of the Top 25 Women in Dentistry and received lifetime achievement awards from the Excellence in Dentistry Organization and from the Academy of Dental Office Managers.

The Jamesons are contributors to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Creighton, scholarship donors to OSU CEHS, founding donors of The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts, Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, Chi Omega Women’s Fraternity, and the Christian Church of Sulphur Youth Program.

Cathy and John own and operate the Jameson Ranch in Davis, Oklahoma, where they raise registered quarter horses. They have two children — Dr. Bretton Jameson of Stillwater, and Carrie Jameson Webber of Oklahoma City. They are both life members of the OSU Alumni Association.

“It has been a blessing to us to share OSU. Everywhere we go, we try to be an ambassador for this university and for the state of Oklahoma.”

— Dr. Catherine Jameson

“It is such a joy to be able to share this award with Cathy. What this has meant to us is tremendous.”

— Dr. John Jameson

Melinda Stinnett

A woman is wearing a formal dress with black and orange colors. She has a medal around her neck, and the background shows a blurred indoor setting with stone walls and some greenery. Melinda Stinnett graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Stinnett was the managing director of Stinnett & Associates, a certified Women’s Business Enterprise and certified Great Place to Work, which she founded in 2001. Stinnett and her leadership team grew the firm from a “party of one” to more than 120 team members and contractors in six cities across three states. During that time, they significantly expanded their service offerings beyond Sarbanes-Oxley and internal audit services to include cybersecurity, supply chain management, data analytics and ESG.

In July 2022, Stinnett & Associates was acquired by CBIZ, a public company offering accounting, tax and advisory services. She was a senior managing director and co-led the risk advisory services practice, one of the fastest-growing divisions in the advisory group.

Stinnett is also passionate about giving back to her community. She is currently a member of the Tulsa Community College Foundation Board and the Tulsa Regional Chamber Board of Advisors. She is also a member of the OSU Foundation Board of Governors, the OSU School of Accounting Advisory Board and Executive Committee, and the OSU Eastin Center for Career Readiness Board. Stinnett also served as a board member of the Philbrook Museum of Art and the Indian Nations Council of the Boys Scouts of America.

Stinnett was named Oklahoma Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration in 2017. She was named the Oklahoma Society of CPA’s 2021 Outstanding Member in Business & Industry award. She was selected as the 2021 inductee into the Spears School of Business Hall of Fame. Stinnett was also a recipient of the Spears School of Business 100 for 100 in 2015, and in 2011, was recognized as an OSU School of Accounting Distinguished Alumni and honored with the Spears School of Business Orange Star Award.

In her spare time, Stinnett enjoys Marvel superhero movies, scuba diving and quality time with her family, which includes her husband, Joel; their four children – Amanda, Josh, Nate and Sarah; two daughters-in-law – Mallory and Shanyn; and three grandchildren – Amelia, Stetson and Sullivan. She is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.

“It was at OSU that I learned the value of hard work, perseverance and, most importantly, the power of connections.”

— Melinda Stinnett

Jerry Winchester

A man wearing a black suit, white dress shirt, and an orange bow tie is standing indoors. He is also wearing a white cowboy hat and has a medal around his neck. The background shows a stone wall and some floral decorations. Jerry Winchester graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical power engineering in 1983. Winchester was a three-year letterman with the Cowboy football team, earning All-Big Eight Conference Academic recognition.

Winchester is the retired CEO of Seventy Seven Energy, an Oklahoma City-based oil field and energy service company formed from a spin-off of Chesapeake Energy’s Oilfield Service business. Prior to that role, he was the CEO of the Houston-based pressure control and oil well firefighting business, Boots & Coots. He also worked for 15 years with Halliburton Energy Services.

Winchester recently served as the council president for the Last Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America and was awarded the Silver Beaver from the Boy Scouts, the highest honor a council can bestow on a volunteer. He and his wife, Rae, have also chaired the Gathering of Eagles event gala for new Eagle Scouts and their parents.

In addition to his service with scouting, Winchester had a 20-plus year involvement with OSU, having served as board chair for both the OSU Foundation and the OSU Alumni Association. He is also a member of the OSU College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology Hall of Fame.

Winchester is the immediate past board chair for the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum and served as a volunteer for the boards of the Oklahoma 4-H Foundation, Duncan Regional Hospital and the Multilateral Endowment Management Company, which manages the OSU Foundation’s endowment of OSU assets. He also serves on the board of directors for Regent Bank, headquartered in Tulsa.

The Winchesters have two daughters, Leigh and Abbie, both OSU graduates. They currently reside at their ranch in Lincoln County, southwest of Perkins, Oklahoma. He is a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.

“A lot of the important things I have learned in life, I learned here at OSU.”

— Jerry Winchester

Photos By: Genesee Photo and Gary Lawson

Story By: Libby Ray | STATE Magazine