[3] After serving as an Army Air Force pilot in World War II, he enrolled at the University of Toledo.

He helped lead them to three Glass Bowl victories, earning most valuable player honors in the 1948 contest after completing 22 of 27 passes for three touchdowns.

[7][8] Standing at 6 feet 1 inch (1.85 m) and 210 pounds (95 kg),[4] Pete tried out unsuccessfully with the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League in 1950.

[2][10][11] The 50,000-watt station had a night signal that was heard as far north as British Columbia, south to Mexico, east to the Plains, and west to some islands in the Pacific Ocean.

[15] He originally bought airtime from the station for the weekends, and eventually sold enough advertising to expand the show to seven days a week.