Edmon Low Library fountain dyeing symbolizes beginning of OSU homecoming week

Oct. 23—The 24 year-long tradition symbolizes the start of Oklahoma State University's Homecoming week. Once the Edmon Low Library fountain has been dyed America's brightest orange by homecoming executives, the rest of the town is soon to follow.

OSU homecoming executives dyed the Edmon Low Library Fountain on Sunday at 6 p.m. following a speech from President Kayse Shrum and the announcement of homecoming queen and king.

"Homecoming is one of OSU's most loved traditions that has its roots all the way back to 1913 with the first harvest carnival," said Meghan Robinson, the MC for the fountain dyeing. "We'll be crowning our homecoming queen and king today, which first occurred in 1938, and the tradition of dyeing the Edmon Low Library fountain orange began in 1999. Whether it is your first homecoming or your 50th, we know this year's celebration will be a memorable one."

This year's homecoming theme is Year of the Cowboy, a theme that honors 100 years of OSU's mascot Pistol Pete — as well as the legacy of Frank Eaton.

Eaton was a real-life cowboy who was a U.S. Marshal in early Oklahoma. During the 1923 Harvest Day Parade in Stillwater, Eaton was asked to represent the school as its new mascot.

Eaton served as OSU's mascot for over three decades until his death in 1958. Since his death, one or two OSU students put on their chaps, bring out the rifle and wear the head of Pistol Pete, in honor of the first Cowboy's mascot Frank Eaton. Pistol Pete No. 96 was in attendance at the fountain dyeing on Sunday.

President Shrum also gave a speech at the fountain dyeing to express her excitement for homecoming week.

"America's Greatest Homecoming is a perfect example of what the Cowboy Family can accomplish when we all come together," Shrum said.

And Shrum is not wrong. OSU's homecoming week is one of the largest student-run events in the country. Many students were in attendance on Sunday.

Mitchell Weida, a junior at OSU, was in attendance to support a fellow fraternity member on homecoming court and to honor the tradition of the fountain dyeing.

"Homecoming has always been a big tradition for OSU and this is one of the many things that goes into that celebration," Weida said. "Fountain dyeing is very symbolic. It is the only time of the year that our fountain is orange."

Another student, senior Gigi Henrique, said that she goes to the fountain dyeing every year.

"Homecoming is my favorite thing about OSU, and it all starts today," Henrique said. "It doesn't feel like homecoming until the fountain is orange and the (homecoming) signs are up."

Following the speeches was the announcement of homecoming royalty and the 2023 homecoming queen and king. Each of the 10 individuals were selected as homecoming royalty from a group of 54 applicants, and they surpassed all the rest through a rigorous application and interview process.

Queen candidates:

* Katherine Barclay, Edmond, Oklahoma, accounting and hospitality and tourism management

* Jennifer Beebe, Kingfisher, Oklahoma, analytics and data science

* Ella Birk, Burkburnett, Texas, marketing

* Ellie Fly, Dalhart, Texas, agribusiness and agricultural communications

* Makinley Kennedy, Lawton, Oklahoma, strategic communications

King candidates:

* Samuel Alaback, Tulsa, Oklahoma, economics

* Brock Conklin, Joplin, Missouri, management

* Stephen Pulliam, Canadian, Texas, biochemistry and molecular biology

* Dalton Rogers, Owasso, Oklahoma, agribusiness

* Cameron Shropshire, Norman, Oklahoma, accounting

The 2023 homecoming queen is Makinley Kennedy and her escort, Stephen Pulliam, received homecoming king.

After the announcement of the 2023 homecoming queen and king, homecoming executives poured orange dye into the Edmon Low Library fountain.

"It only takes 72 ounces of orange dye for the 5,000 gallon fountain to be transformed into America's brightest orange," Robinson said.