The Oakland Post

This is the original design of OUs Pioneer. Charles Conklin was the first to personify the Pioneer in the 1970s.

Becoming the Pioneer: OU’s first mascot

Emily Morris, Managing Editor March 21, 2021

Pioneer Pete went down in history as Oakland University’s first mascot, but the man behind those first cheers and crowd leading is actually Charles ‘Chuck’ Conklin.  “They [OU athletics] needed...

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