OSU Athletics Remember Cowboys Baseball Stadium Namesake Cecil O'Brate After He Passes At 95

A man who donated $35 million to Oklahoma State's baseball program passed away this past weekend at 95.

OSU Head Baseball Coach Josh Holliday said his favorite part about the stadium is that O'Brate saw it come to life and enjoyed games there before he passed away.

Part of businessman and entrepreneur Cecil O'Brate's legacy is at his alma mater, Oklahoma State.

By donating so much money to OSU's baseball program, Head Coach Josh Holliday set up the program for success.

"When he chose to make O'Brate stadium a reality, clearly that changed every single day for all of us in Oklahoma State baseball forever," Coach Holliday said.

O'Brate Stadium was officially dedicated to the Enid native on May 20, 2021, and his friend President George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch with him.

Holliday had one thing on his mind.

"All I could think about the whole game is we got to win this game. You can't have a grand opening and a president and open Mr. O'Brate Stadium and not win the game and thankfully we rallied back and had a big win, but I'll never forget how important it was to win that game," Coach Holliday said.

O'Brate's life motto was "make it happen." Holliday said it's a reminder to him and his players to not make excuses.

"When people leave behind these amazing gifts they extend in all of us the desire to continue to do the things that they did to be successful that we can learn from them. "

A new stadium is also helping OSU recruit some of the nation's best athletes.

"A stadium once again provided us a home where any elite player and family can come and say, I can chase my dreams here," Holliday said. "I can train at an elite level. I can perform in front of amazing crowds. I can play on college baseball's biggest stage, and I can play in a facility that's world-class and one of a kind."

Once the Cowboys started playing at the new stadium, Cecil O'Brate would go to almost every home weekend series and wear an OSU baseball jersey with a number one on the back.

"He would come and sit here in the dugout for parts of games," said Chad Weiberg, OSU Athletic Director. "A lot of times he has a suite there on the first baseline and he would spend time in the suite and would always bring friends and family with him. He wanted to share it as much as possible with as many people as he could."

Athletic Director Chad Weiberg said O'Brate leaves behind a legacy of giving to others that is impacting hundreds of people beyond baseball.

"The passion that he had behind changing people's lives. He has funded college scholarships for hundreds of years, underprivileged youth out of the foster care system," Weiberg said.

Thousands of OSU fans are also getting the most out of O'Brate stadium and will for years to come.

"This facility on this campus is something that OSU fans will continue to enjoy day after day, year after year to come celebrate cowboy baseball, the joy of athletics and this the joy of being together," Holliday said.

The baseball team plans to wear a patch on either their hats or jerseys this season that says "CO" for Cecil O’Brate. They will also hold a celebration of life before one of their home games this season.