October 10, 2016

Purdue celebrating Pete's 60th anniversary with reunion, commemorative items

Pete ornament Holiday ornament featuring the original sideline Purdue Pete. (Photo provided). Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A celebration of Purdue Pete's 60th year on the sidelines of Boilermaker athletic events is underway.

Commemorative products are now available and a reunion is planned for Homecoming weekend Oct. 14-15 for current and former students who have portrayed Pete over the 60 years as a sideline character. 

Eighty-one different students have served as Pete since 1956, and 79 of them are still alive. More than 20 are expected to return to campus for a reunion the night before the Homecoming game against Iowa.

"Purdue Pete has been an icon at Purdue athletics events since 1956," says Steve Solberg, Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics' adviser/coach for cheerleaders and Petes. "It's amazing how people's faces light up when they see Pete and get a picture with him. Purdue athletics is very lucky to have such a well-known and iconic character, who is loved by the fan base, roaming the venues."

Several area stores, including 16 Cracker Barrel restaurants across Indiana, are selling specially designed T-shirts with sales benefiting Purdue scholarships. The T-shirts also are available at University Book Store and the Purdue Team Store at Ross-Ade Stadium. 

Sales also are handled online here.

In addition to the shirts, specially designed socks and holiday ornaments featuring the original sideline Purdue Pete will be available at select local retailers in the Lafayette/West Lafayette, including University Book Store, University Spirit, Purdue Follett West and the Team Store. The ornaments will be on sale as individual items, or shoppers can get one free with a purchase of $100 or more.

All commemorative items will be sold for less than $25.

This summer, a series of bobblehead Petes was produced showing five variations of Pete as he has evolved through the years. Those Petes are being used by Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics for ticket promotions at select events throughout the school year. 

Proceeds from Purdue licensed products provide more than $1 million annually to Purdue student scholarships. For more information on the Purdue Pete celebration and products, contact Erika Austin, 765-494-1733, elaustin@purdue.edu, or Jim Vruggink, 765-494-2086, jvrruggink@purdue.edu, of Purdue Trademarks and Licensing. 

Sources: Erika Austin, 765-494-1733, elaustin@purdue.edu

Jim Vruggink, 765-494-2086, jvruggink@purdue.edu

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