Paintings of Famous Oklahomans Unveiled at the State Senate

Senator Charles Ford announced Tuesday that the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc. has formally dedicated two more original paintings. The two latest works were unveiled during a special ceremony in the Senate Chamber on Wednesday, February 6th.

"With these latest additions, our organization has now commissioned 26 pieces of original art for the Capitol," said Senator Ford, President of the Preservation Fund.

The paintings were both created by Kremlin, Oklahoma artist Harold "H.T." Holden, and depict two of the state's more colorful figures from history.

Senator Mike Morgan, of Stillwater commissioned a painting of Frank Eaton, better known as "Pistol Pete," an early day lawman and pioneer.

"Most Oklahomans probably think of Pistol Pete as OSU's mascot, but may not realize he was a real person, and very much the product of the Wild West. As a young child, he saw his father murdered. At 15, he had become such an excellent marksman that he was able to outshoot the best soldiers at Fort Gibson, earning himself a marksmanship badge and the nickname of Pistol Pete. His skill enabled him to avenge his father's death, and at the age of 17 became a Deputy U.S. Marshal under Judge Isaac C. Parker, who was known better as the hanging judge," said Senator Morgan.

"At 29, he joined the land rush to Oklahoma and settled near Perkins where he served as sheriff and then later as a blacksmith. After Eaton rode a horse in the 1923 Armistice Day parade in Stillwater, a group of Oklahoma A&M College Students decided he was just the character to be their mascot. But it wasn't until 1958 that it was made official, the same year he died," said Morgan.

A second painting was commissioned by State Senator Brad Henry, of William "Bill" Tilghman.

"Bill Tilghman was another product of the Wild West era of American History, but he certainly wasn't limited to just that. In his life, he was a frontier scout, buffalo hunter, peace officer, movie maker and even a state senator. Tilghman came to Oklahoma during the land run of April 1889 and made his home in Guthrie. He served as U.S. Marshal for 19 years, as well as becoming the elected sheriff of Lincoln County, then later winning a seat in the Oklahoma State Senate. He left that post to become chief of police of Oklahoma City," explained Henry D-Shawnee.

Tilghman came out of retirement in 1924 to help clean up the town of Cromwell, Oklahoma, but was shot and killed by a drunken prohibition officer Tilghman was taking to jail.

"The wonderful thing about the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Incorporated is that it has enabled us to help preserve and teach about Oklahoma history while filling the Capitol with original works by Oklahoma artists. I'm very pleased with our two newest paintings," said Senator Ford.