Homecoming Through the Years

Monday, October 23, 2023

What we know today as America’s Greatest Homecoming Celebration, was once a small-town harvest carnival in 1913. Now, with over one hundred years of celebration, the event has become a famous representation of the Oklahoma State University spirit. Come with us as we take a walk down memory lane!

Seven years after the initial celebration at the Harvest Carnival the OSU Alumni Association hosted its first official Homecoming celebration. On October 30, 1920, 90 Oklahoma A&M alumni returned to Stillwater for the football game against Texas A&M, a dance and dinner hosted by the Association. It was in this same decade that the now famous pomp decorations done by sororities and fraternities began when sororities started decorating their house doorways.

In 1930, the first-ever Homecoming Parade made its way down Main Street. By then more than 17,000 alumni returned to Stillwater for the ever-growing event.

In the early 40s, Homecoming was combined with Dad’s and Mother’s Days and sponsored by the YMCA, YWCA, Dad’s and Mother’s Association and the Alumni Association. The joint effort was a result of World War II and impending gas rationing. Despite the state of our nation, the event was still well attended.

Today, America’s Greatest Homecoming draws more than 80,000 alumni back each year. It is a week-long celebration with different events each day and while it’s only once a year for alumni, the Alumni Association and various student groups work year-round to create an event worthy of its nationally recognized status.

Turn Back Time – Homecoming themes from 2001 to the present

2001 – Visions of Glory
- This year paid a special homage to the ten members of the OSU basketball program lost in a plane crash earlier that year.
2002 – Together We Can!
2003 – A Universal Spirit!
2004 – Building a Legacy
2005 – Cowboys Creating Excellence
2006 – Forever Orange
2007 – An Orange State of Mind
2008 – Generation Cowboy
2009 – Branded for Life
2010 – Cowboy Nation
2011 – Where Your Story Began
2012 – The Life. The Legend. The Legacy.
2013 – Branding a Brighter Orange
2014 – The Experience
2015 – Still Loyal Still True
2016 – A Cowboy Dream
2017 – Herald Your Fame
2018 – Cowboys Ride On
2019 – As the World Turns Orange
2020-2021 – 100 Years of America’s Greatest Homecoming
- This Homecoming celebration looked a little different as it was postponed in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The centennial edition of America’s Greatest Homecoming was celebrated a year later in 2021.
2022 – Hats off to Cowboy Heroes
2023 – The year of the Cowboy
- The homecoming theme celebrates the 100^th anniversary of the selection of Pistol Pete as OSU’s mascot. Frank “Pistol Pete” Eaton was selected by Oklahoma A&M students to replace the tiger as the university’s mascot in 1923 following the Armistice Day parade in Stillwater.

Pistol Pete firing the rifle at the football game

Homecoming Schedule 2023

Sunday, Oct. 22 - Fountain Dye and Crowning of Homecoming King and Queen
Tuesday, Oct. 24 - Harvest Carnival and Chili Cook-off
Friday, Oct. 27 – Walkaround and Homecoming & Hoops
Saturday, Oct. 28 – Sea of Orange Parade and Cincinnati vs. OSU football game

To see the full schedule, click here