Cecil 'Lethal' Pettigrew

Lethal Cecil's Story

Cecil Lee Pettigrew was born in a farm house in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 24, 1958 to George and Juanita (née Cole) Pettigrew. He died at home on his farm surrounded by loved ones on September 15, 2022. Born the middle of 10 children, he embodied the Pettigrew value of hard work. While his father worked in the asphalt business, his mother and siblings ran the farm. Cecil, having spent long summers hauling hay on the farm, was well cross-trained for fall sports. As a Tulsa East Central High School Cardinal, he lettered in both football and wrestling and in 1977 was a member of the State Championship wrestling team. Upon graduation, he received scholarships for both sports and attended NEO A & M followed by Southwest Missouri State. Cecil was proud to be the first person in his family to graduate high school and attend college.

As a reluctant recruit while serving as security for the Whisker’s Club, Cecil competed in and won Tulsa’s first ever Tough Man (1980). It was on that night that fate would have him meet boxing coach, Cortez Nelson. As his mentor, Nelson’s training elevated Pettigrew’s South paw to compete nationally and internationally. “Lethal Cecil” finished his professional career in 1998 ranked 5th in the North American Boxing Federation with a professional boxing record of 41-17-2, including 32 knockouts.

In 1996, he embarked on a Personal Training career that spanned 27 years. He believed that an individual's greatest investment was found supporting their health and that a community's greatest investment was found supporting its children. After having presented his vision and through the generosity of his personal training clients, the Cecil Pettigrew Foundation (501c3) was born. The Foundation, which was stewarded by both he & his wife Carrie, allowed Cecil to coach children regardless of their ability to pay and in many cases it afforded him the opportunity to bridge the gap for those where a parental presence was absent. Since its inception, hundreds of Oklahoma youth have been coached by “Lethal Cecil”, many of whom, likely traded a life behind bars to be surrounded by his ropes, his love, and his discipline.

Outside of the ring, Cecil gave freely of his time and resources. He spent years coaching both Whitney and Foster Middle School football teams alongside friends, Leroy Breashers and Randy Kennedy. He was an avid outdoorsman, never hesitating to share his favorite fishing hole or deer stand with those he loved in and out of the ring. Although boxing had taken a significant toll on Cecil’s health, he never complained. He simply showed up to cover his favorite corner of the ring where he saw everyone who entered, regardless of their story or station in life, as equally deserving of dignity and discipline.

In 2019 Cecil was inducted into East Central High School Hall of Fame where he and his wife Carrie are lifetime members of its Foundation. Out of all of his victories, he was most proud of the work he did to help those in his orbit. You would be hard pressed not to smile in his presence even as he was tagging you in the face or you were enduring the 100 degree heat of his Team Lethal Gym. He could be depended upon for a word of encouragement, an infectious laugh, and a bit of wisdom to set you straight. It is said that the great commission in life is to leave the world better than you found it. For those who knew him, they would attest that Uncle Cecil accomplished that right up until the final bell.